Twelve Kenyan county governors have set aside over Sh8 billion to run their offices in the 2026/27 budget estimates, with financial records showing heavy spending on luxuries over development projects. These budgets account for a significant portion of county allocations, with some governors exceeding Sh400 million each. An analysis reveals Sh14.2 billion spent annually by 43 governors across 47 counties.
Twelve governors, including Kitui's Julius Malombe and Machakos' Wavinya Ndeti, have allocated Sh8.2 billion for their office expenses. In Kitui, Malombe set aside Sh2.39 billion, or 16.8% of the county's total budget, surpassing funds for education, roads, agriculture, and energy.
Others include Homa Bay's Gladys Wanga (Sh538.4 million), Marsabit’s Mohamed Mohamud Ali (Sh608.1 million), and Makueni's Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Sh516 million). These budgets cover air travel, advisor payments, luxury food, furniture, and transport.
An examination of budgets from all 47 counties shows 43 governors spend Sh14.2 billion yearly on offices. This represents 58% of allocations for 43 counties, while key sectors like agriculture, water, and infrastructure see cuts.
Counties such as Bomet, Nyeri, and Nyandarua allocated under Sh150 million each, highlighting variations in spending priorities.