The Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, led by Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, faced intense scrutiny from the Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation (CII) over its 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
Chaired by Hon. John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), the Committee scrutinized the Ministry’s financial plans, questioning its effectiveness, communication strategy, and budget transparency.
Despite highlighting key achievements, including the digital superhighway, digital hubs in 1,450 constituencies, and government digitization, MPs raised concerns over stalled projects, inactive public Wi-Fi hotspots, and limited public awareness of the Ministry’s initiatives.
“We don’t want to be a government that just speaks and doesn’t deliver,” asserted Hon. Geoffrey Wandeto, emphasizing the need for tangible results.
Hon. Alfah Miruka added, “People don’t know what digital hubs are or what the Ministry actually does. How are you changing that?”
Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui acknowledged sustainability challenges affecting digital hubs and Wi-Fi projects but assured the Committee that solutions were being developed. However, financial discrepancies in the Ministry’s budget drew sharp criticism.
Hon. Miruka condemned the “blanket variation in budget,” stating it was “wrong and can’t be allowed.”
Particular scrutiny fell on stalled projects like Studio Mashinani, which aims to empower local talent, and the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), whose Eldoret branch received no funding despite allocations for refurbishing the Ministry’s headquarters.
Addressing KBC’s KSh 52 billion debt, CS Kabogo stated that the Ministry was “cleaning up shop” before seeking additional funding.
Despite these assurances, the Committee remained unconvinced. “We want to hear you, feel you, and see you in public,” urged Hon. Bensouda.
With mounting concerns over project execution and financial accountability, legislators deemed the proposed budget inadmissible, instructing the Ministry to revise its figures and deliver measurable results for all Kenyans.
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