Nairobi Spent Only 17% on Development as Sh3.3B Went To Paying Lawyers

County’s development budget allocation raises questions about spending priorities

Nairobi County has come under scrutiny after new budget implementation data revealed that only 17% of available funds were directed toward development projects, while Sh3.3 billion was channeled into legal fees, waste management, and creditor payments during the first nine months of the 2024/25 financial year.

According to the County Budget Implementation Review Report released by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration allocated just Sh2.43 billion to development programmes out of Sh21.81 billion received between July 2024 and March 2025.

The bulk of county spending—Sh19.38 billion or 66.1%—went toward recurrent expenditures, including Sh12.27 billion on employee compensation and Sh6.12 billion on operations and maintenance.

Perhaps most striking in the report is the Sh892.1 million spent on legal fees alone during this period, representing more than one-third of the county’s total development budget.

This substantial legal expenditure, combined with Sh1.13 billion on solid waste management and Sh1.3 billion on other creditors, totaled Sh3.3 billion—exceeding the entire development allocation.

The Controller of Budget’s data shows the county spent significant amounts on various operational items, including Sh167.1 million on foreign conferences, Sh63.68 million on heavy equipment hire, and Sh216.81 million on travel allowances.

Additional expenditures included Sh58.3 million on event management, Sh47.5 million on advertising, and Sh262.09 million on disaster-related items.

Nairobi County continues to lead all 47 counties with the highest pending bills, totaling Sh115.69 billion. During the review period, the County Executive managed to clear Sh5.94 billion in pending bills, while the County Assembly settled Sh140.73 million.

The low development spending rate of 17% falls significantly short of the constitutional requirement that counties allocate at least 30% of their budgets to development activities, raising questions about the county’s commitment to infrastructure improvement and service delivery enhancement.

The spending pattern suggests potential challenges in balancing immediate operational needs with long-term development goals. While waste management and legal compliance are essential county functions, the disproportionate allocation raises concerns about sustainable urban development in Kenya’s capital.

County residents have long complained about poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, and substandard public services—issues that require substantial development investment to address effectively.