The government has launched a nationwide audit of all state-owned buildings as part of a broader strategy to reduce expenditure on rented office space, improve the utilisation of public assets, and guide future investments in government office accommodation.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Investments and Assets Management, Cyrell Wagunda, welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to undertake the comprehensive audit, saying the exercise would help curb avoidable rental costs, optimize the use of existing Government buildings, and provide a clear roadmap for rehabilitation, consolidation, and future infrastructure development.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Wagunda said the audit comes at a time when many Government-owned buildings remain underutilized or require rehabilitation, even as expenditure on privately leased office space continues to increase.
He noted that the Cabinet had suspended the leasing of additional office space until the audit is completed and a comprehensive assessment of government accommodation needs is finalised.
The meeting, attended by Deputy Head of Public Service Amos Gathecha, brought together Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Administration from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The officers have been tasked with coordinating the nationwide exercise, which is being undertaken by an inter-agency taskforce in collaboration with the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management through the Department of National Assets and Liabilities Management (NALM).
Wagunda said government offices should provide safe, functional, and productive working environments while ensuring prudent use of public resources and value for taxpayers’ money.
He explained that the audit would establish an accurate inventory of government buildings, including their locations, ownership status, physical condition, occupancy levels, and the efficiency with which available office space is being utilised.
“This directive is an opportunity to establish a reliable government-wide position and improve accommodation decisions. The objective is to ensure that existing government space is utilised first, buildings are properly maintained, and future leasing, rehabilitation, construction, and relocation decisions are informed by verified data,” the PS said.
He added that the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, the State Department for Public Works, and the National Treasury would work jointly to strengthen the management of government office accommodation through coordinated planning and oversight.
According to Wagunda, the collaboration will bring together technical expertise in building measurements, condition assessments, space standards, rehabilitation planning, leased accommodation management, asset registration, utilisation analysis, policy formulation, and consolidated reporting.
He urged NGAOs to support the taskforce by coordinating data collection, verification, and implementation of the audit across the country to ensure accurate and credible information is gathered from all government institutions.
The Deputy Head of Public Service expressed confidence in the Administrative Officers, citing their successful coordination of the nationwide identification and registration of farmers as evidence of their capacity to deliver large-scale government programmes.
He said the officers’ presence across the country, coupled with their experience in mobilising public institutions and coordinating national initiatives, would be instrumental in ensuring the successful execution of the government building audit.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
