The Quarterly Economic and Budgetary Review released by the National Treasury has listed government institutions which spent more than the target in 2023.
According to the report, ministries and public agencies spent Ksh1.052 trillion against the target of Ksh1.232 trillion. The total expenditure achieved 85.4 per cent of the target.
"Recurrent expenditure was Ksh8.074 trillion against a target of Ksh8.46 trillion, while development expenditure amounted to Ksh2.45 trillion against a target of Ksh3.916 trillion," Treasury revealed.
However, certain government institutions exceeded the designated expenditure amounts during the reviewed period.
As per the review for the period ending December 2023, the targeted expenditure for the State House was Ksh4.919 billion, whereas the actual expenditure amounted to Ksh5.366 billion.
This amount, representing approximately a 9.09% overspend, is inclusive of both recurrent and development expenditures.
Other government entities that exceeded their allocated budgets include the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Police Service, the State Department of Performance and Delivery Management, and the Department of Internal and National Security.
Additionally, the Treasury identified further departments, including Petroleum, Public Service, East African Community, Culture and Heritage, Basic Education, Cooperatives, and ICT, which also surpassed their allocated budgets.
In the review, institutions with the most significant discrepancies were the State Department of Basic Education (which overspent by Ksh15 billion), the State Department of Internal and National Security (which exceeded its budget by Ksh3.8 billion) and the State Department of ICT (which went over budget by Ksh5.078 billion).
In 2023, the State Department of Basic Education received additional funds to cater for Junior Secondary School capitation and the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
"As of December 31, 2023, recurrent expenditure by the State Department for Basic Education, State Department for Higher Education and Research; Teachers Service Commission; State Department for Vocational and Technical Training and the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards and the State Department for Medical Services (Social Sector) accounted for 47.6 per cent of total recurrent expenditure," read part of the review.
The State Department of Housing and Urban Development accounted for the largest share of total development expenditure at 15.6 per cent.
Regarding development expenditure, the State Department for Economic Planning accounted for 11.3 per cent, followed by the State Department for Roads at 9.6 per cent, and the State Department for Transport at 7.7 per cent.
