The Auditor-General has estimated that there are Sh77 billion of uncompleted projects left over from the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
These include unfinished roads, hospitals, dams, courts, a data centre and other infrastructure projects.
This report has come out just as the government of President William Ruto seeks to increase tax revenues and reduce the budget deficit. This is commendable but unpopular with a public already squeezed by soaring global inflation.
Kenya cannot afford to waste Sh77 billion. Rather than starting new projects, the government should first complete these old outstanding investments. Otherwise the sunk cost will be wasted.
The new tax rises are unpopular - there is no escaping that fact. But this is partly due to the popular perception that the extra government revenue will be wasted on unnecessary expenditure and corruption. In Denmark, there are few complaints about the very high rate of taxation because the money is not embezzled and high-quality education and medical care is provided free of charge.
So today's government needs to give us confidence that these tax rises are not being wasted. The government needs to crack down on corruption and ensure that these unfinished projects are completed.
Quote of the day: "Is it so dreadful a thing then to die?"
Nero
The Roman emperor committed suicide on June 9, AD68
