- Among the universities attracting the greatest concern is Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, which recorded the highest value of stalled projects at nearly KSh2 billion.
- Several institutions have been unable to complete key development projects despite committing substantial public resources
- Auditors found recurring cases of contractor abandonment, repeated extensions of projects, and procurement shortcomings
Kenya’s public universities are facing renewed scrutiny after the Auditor-General uncovered a worrying trail of stalled and delayed infrastructure projects worth billions of shillings, exposing taxpayers to significant financial losses while slowing the expansion of higher education. The findings reveal that several institutions have been unable to complete key development projects despite committing substantial public resources, raising fresh concerns about project planning, procurement practices, contractor performance and financial accountability.
According to the Auditor-General’s Summary Report on Public Universities, billions of shillings are tied up in projects that have either stalled completely or fallen far behind schedule. The report indicates that ten public universities had stalled projects with a combined value of approximately KSh5.9 billion, while another twelve universities were implementing delayed infrastructure projects valued at about KSh7.1 billion. The audit concludes that many of these projects have exceeded their contractual completion periods, with some construction sites abandoned by contractors and others progressing at an unacceptably slow pace, denying institutions the facilities they urgently need.
Among the universities attracting the greatest concern is Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, which recorded the highest value of stalled projects at nearly KSh2 billion. Despite significant public investment, several infrastructure developments remained incomplete, preventing the university from fully expanding its teaching, research and student support services. Garissa University was also listed among the institutions with major stalled projects, accounting for more than KSh1.1 billion in delayed developments. The prolonged delays have slowed the university’s plans to strengthen its academic infrastructure and improve learning conditions.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology was similarly flagged after the audit established that projects valued at hundreds of millions of shillings had stalled. Among them were an administration block whose contract was terminated before completion and a boundary wall project whose implementation was interrupted by a court dispute, leaving the university without the expected infrastructure despite substantial expenditure.
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Kenyatta University also appeared in the audit after six development projects worth more than KSh320 million remained stalled. The Auditor-General observed that continued delays had affected the timely delivery of facilities intended to support teaching, research and student welfare. At Taita Taveta University, an amphitheatre together with a digital innovation centre remained unfinished despite payments amounting to nearly KSh200 million, raising questions about contract implementation and value for money.
The report shows that the challenges are not confined to a few institutions but reflect systemic weaknesses across Kenya’s public university sector. Auditors found recurring cases of contractor abandonment, repeated extensions of project timelines, weak supervision, procurement shortcomings, delayed decision-making, inadequate contract enforcement and legal disputes that brought construction works to a standstill. In several instances, universities had already paid significant amounts for projects that remained incomplete long after their expected completion dates.
The consequences extend far beyond financial losses. Every delayed lecture theatre, laboratory, hostel, library or administration block translates into overcrowded classrooms, limited learning space, constrained research capacity and reduced opportunities for students to access quality higher education. As enrolment in public universities continues to grow, the inability to complete infrastructure projects places additional pressure on institutions already struggling with limited resources.
The findings come at a time when many public universities are grappling with mounting debts, shrinking revenues, delayed exchequer disbursements and rising operational costs. Financial challenges have made it increasingly difficult for institutions to honour contractual obligations, complete ongoing developments and initiate new projects, creating a cycle in which delayed funding and stalled construction reinforce one another.
The Auditor-General has called for stronger project planning, improved procurement practices, tighter supervision of contractors and greater accountability among university management and governing councils. Universities have also been urged to enforce contractual provisions against non-performing contractors, strengthen internal controls and ensure that future infrastructure investments are completed within agreed budgets and timelines.
As Parliament and other oversight agencies begin examining the audit findings, pressure is mounting on university councils and management teams to explain why billions of shillings remain locked in unfinished projects. The investigations are expected to shape future government funding, strengthen accountability in public institutions and determine how quickly stalled projects can be revived to ensure that students, lecturers and taxpayers finally benefit from investments that have remained incomplete for years.
By Hillary Muhalya
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