The government has launched a nationwide drive to digitize all public investment projects as part of a renewed push to improve accountability and address recurring loss of public funds.
At the center of this shift is the Public Investment Management Information System (PIMIS), a digital platform through which national and county governments will register every new, ongoing, and stalled project.
The system is designed to offer a single source of verified data and to eliminate the opacity that has long plagued public investment. PIMIS will record details of high-value projects undertaken by ministries, state agencies, and county administrations.
The system is expected to provide a transparency tool to plug financial leakages that have repeatedly been highlighted in reports by the Auditor-General, including cases of stalled works, inflated costs, irregular procurement, and unsupported payments.
Public Investments and Assets Management Principal Secretary Cyrell Odede said more than 2,000 legacy projects had already been migrated into the system, creating a national repository of investment information.
Speaking during a system-enhancement workshop in Naivasha, Odede noted that the digital platform will track the entire investment cycle, from project identification and budgeting to implementation and evaluation ensuring public resources are prudently utilized.
According to Odede, full deployment of PIMIS across the two levels of government follows the implementation of the Public Finance Management Regulations, 2020.
Odede said the reforms mark a decisive shift towards technology -driven oversight, with project information accessible at the touch of a button.
The PS said the platform will also link with existing government systems, including the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), the e-procurement system, and the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Integrated Customs Management System for compatibility.
Odede urged ICT teams to ensure smooth migration, proper documentation, and reliable user support so that the system functions in line with legal and operational requirements.
The Auditor-General’s report for the 2023/24 Financial year shows that the national government spent Sh3.88 trillion, out of which Sh1.6 trillion went to recurrent costs, Sh1.77 trillion to Consolidated Fund services, and Sh500 billion to development expenditure.
The report also found that 24 national projects were behind schedule or completely stalled, denying citizens essential services and undermining value for money.
County governments recorded estimated expenditure of Sh385 billion during the same period, representing eight per cent of total public spending. They collected Sh53 billion in own-source revenue, up from Sh42 billion the previous.
However, the audit uncovered persistent weaknesses in county financial management including missing documentation, questions over value for money, governance lapses, and inaccurate financial reporting.
The audit noted that expenditure totaling Sh5.38 billion across 32 counties could not be supported, while 248 county-level projects valued at over Sh20 billion were found to be stalled or abandoned.
The government now hopes that comprehensive adoption of PIMIS will address these systemic failures and ensure public investments deliver the development outcomes citizens have long been promised.
by Erastus Gichohi
