Revealed: Projects Ruto wants to fund with Sh272bn loans

The projects account for more than half of the Sh514 billion that the government plans to borrow to bridge next year’s budget shortfall.

President Ruto’s main focus in the coming financial year will be water, transport, housing, industrial parks, renewable energy, agriculture, ICT, aviation and health projects.

Budget estimates by the National Treasury tabled in Parliament reveal that the government seeks to execute most of the flagship projects through loans.

Details show the government seeks a Sh1 billion loan from Israel for procurement of an anti-missile system called Spyder Air Defense.

The government is also looking up to lenders to provide Sh1.5 billion for Nairobi Intelligent Transport System and junction improvement project.

Another Sh1 billion will be procured from South Korea for establishment of the Bus Rapid Transit Line 5 project.

The government is seeking Sh1 billion for firefighting equipment and associated services for the Kenya Forest Service.

Also lined up in the borrowing plan is Sh1.75 billion for TVETs and Sh2.27 billion for operationalisation of the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company.

The Kenya Kwanza administration is looking for funds to complete mega road projects initiated in the sunset days of President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.

Of the amounts, Sh2.6 billion is being sourced for the Mombasa-Mariakani highway project, Sh1.3 billion for Isebania-Ahero road, and Sh1.53 billion for Kapchorwa-Suam and Eldoret Bypass.

The government will borrow Sh2 billion for dualling of the Thika-Kenol-Marua road, Sh4.3 billion for phase one of the Bagamoyo – Malindi road project, and Sh2 billion for Isiolo-Mandera-El Wak road.

Also to be borrowed is Sh2.1 billion for Mombasa Port Area road development project and another Sh2 billion for Mombasa Gate Bridge Construction.

The government is seeking for lenders to provide Sh5.5 billion for development of Mombasa SEZ in Dongo Kundu to be sourced by various concerned departments.

Kenya Kwanza intends to go to the market for Sh2.2 billion for Kenya-South Sudan link road to help complete the Kitale – Morpus section.

For water projects, some Sh4.5 billion is being sought for Kenya Towns Water and Sanitation Programme, Sh4 billion for Thwake Multipurpose Dam and Sh2.4 billion for Nairobi Rivers Rehabilitation and Restoration Programme.

Power projects are also lined up in the borrowing plan including Sh1 billion for Ketraco works, Sh500 million for Last Mile and Sh1 billion for transmission network improvement project.

A further Sh4 billion is to be sourced for the Olkaria 1 units 1, 2and 3 geothermal power plan rehabilitation project with another Sh1.6 billion planned for Olkaria 1 and IV upgrade.

As a measure towards ending rampant national power blackouts, the government seeks to borrow Sh1.8 billion to modernise the Kenya Power distribution system.

Kenya Kwanza is also looking up to China for Sh4.9 billion for Konza Data Centre and smart city facilities and Sh1.4 billion for the Konza Technopolis city project.

Also in the plan is to source Sh2 billion for upgrading and equipping Kenya Railways Corporation workshops in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru.

On health, the state plans to borrow Sh970 million to upgrade maternal and newborn care units and another Sh759 million towards KNH and Kisii cancer centre project.

Treasury details show that the government has approached Gavi for Sh2.6 billion for health system management and another Sh844 million for health equipment.

At least Sh2.5 billion will be sourced to go towards supply and installation of internet-based 4000 network.

The government is seeking Sh3.5 billion to complete the Mwache Dam project for improvement of drinking water and sanitation systems in Mombasa.

A similar amount will be procured for improvement of water and sanitation in Nairobi and Sh1.5 billion for Lake Victoria water and sanitation project.

To support the education sector, the government is looking at acquiring Sh1.5 billion from World Bank under the secondary schools quality improvement and Sh2.3 billion for primary education equity in learning programmes.

At least Sh1.5 billion will be borrowed for Kenya Covid-19 emergency response project and Sh7.5 billion for improving trade facilitation.

The Kenya Kwanza administration seeks to source Sh3 billion for off-grid solar project, Sh1.5 billion for pastoral economies and Sh1.8 billion for rural Kenya financial inclusion facility.

At least Sh1.39 billion will be sought from lenders for livestock commercialisation, Sh3 billion for aquaculture, and Sh2.3 billion for establishment of Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Treasury says in the 2024 Budget Policy Statement that a total of 31 projects will be executed under public private partnerships.

Most of the ventures are at the procurement stage and Treasury says it was mobilising Sh50 billion for the ventures.