By Billy Mijungu
With, wastefulness in our government spending, It is time we call out the extravagance for what it is obscene, unnecessary, and deeply out of touch with the reality most Kenyans live in. The trend of spending excessive amounts of money on the launching and commissioning of public projects must be confronted head on. If our leaders are sincere about serving the people, then they must agree that no more than 2 percent of any project’s total cost should be used on ceremonies, launch events, or public relations fanfare.
Across both the National and County Governments, we see a disturbing obsession with pomp and colour when unveiling projects. What should be a straightforward and cost effective exercise to inform the public of progress turns into a costly spectacle. Helicopters are hired, banners printed in bulk, and convoys assembled to transport government officials from every corner of the country. Entire delegations are mobilized simply to cut ribbons, take photos, and make speeches.
Imagine helicopters ferrying leaders to launch a borehole whose actual construction cost is less than the aviation cost of getting them there. Imagine the irony in commissioning a classroom in a rural area while burning through millions of shillings in allowances, accommodation, meals, and logistical support. This is not governance. This is theatre. And the people paying for the ticket to this theatre are the very taxpayers who are crying out for better services, affordable food, and decent healthcare.
Why must we pay expensive domestic subsistence allowances to government officials and political leaders just so they can gather at a project site to witness a launch? What is the value to the public of having hundreds of leaders flown or driven in for a one hour event? The answer is simple none. These events are not meant for the public’s benefit. They are crafted for political optics, for media attention, and to give an illusion of productivity.
This culture of wasteful spending is not just embarrassing it is immoral. It happens both at the top of government and at the county level, where resources are even scarcer. Counties are now competing not on the basis of delivering better services, but on who can throw the grandest commissioning ceremony. We are losing the plot.
And this is not where it ends. Another area where public money is disappearing with little accountability is in international travel. Large delegations are sent abroad to attend meetings, conferences, and “benchmarking” exercises. Often, these trips yield nothing tangible. No written reports. No clear outcomes. No strategies on how the experience will improve services back home. It has become a joyride for well connected officials at the expense of a struggling economy.
For all these reasons, it is clear that Kenya has a spending problem not a revenue problem. The issue is not that we lack money; it is that we misuse what we have. We borrow more, tax more, and beg more yet we continue to waste. This is not sustainable. What we need is not more taxes, but more discipline. More accountability. More results.
To truly build our country, we must prioritize spending in a way that delivers real value to the public. That means setting clear priorities funding healthcare before hospitality, classrooms before cakes, and irrigation before invitations. Every shilling must have a purpose, and that purpose must be tied to measurable outcomes that improve lives.
Kenya needs to recalibrate. We must redefine leadership not as a stage for drama, but as a space for delivery. We need to pass legislation that limits spending on project launches and commissioning to no more than 2 percent of the total project cost. This cap must be enforced rigorously. It should include all expenses travel, accommodation, branding, public relations, logistics, and catering. The rest of the money should go directly into the project itself or to other priority areas.
This proposal is not radical. It is common sense. Our people deserve better. Our country deserves better. Let us channel our national resources into things that truly matter education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and job creation.
The time for change is now. Let us put an end to wasteful ceremonies and start delivering value.
