Nairobi County’s budget transparency score has dropped for the first time in recent years, according to the 2025 County Budget Transparency Survey (CBTS), raising concerns about accountability, public participation, and access to budget information under the administration of Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The survey shows that Nairobi scored 67 out of 100 points in 2025, down from 72 points recorded in 2024.
The annual survey, conducted by the Council of Governors in partnership with Bajeti Hub, measures how counties share budget information with the public.
It assesses whether key budget documents are published on time, are easily accessible, and contain enough information for residents to understand how public funds are being used.
According to the report released on June 4, Nairobi County published only six of the ten key budget documents required under the assessment within the stipulated timelines.
Researchers noted that the county scored 67 points based on nine publicly available documents, marking a decline from the previous year’s performance.
The findings come at a time when the county government is facing growing public scrutiny over transparency and the management of public resources.
The report was released on the same day the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) announced the recovery of approximately Ksh65.3 million in cash during a raid at the residence of a senior Nairobi County official from the Urban Planning Department as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
One of the main issues highlighted in the survey was the failure to publish several important budget documents within legally required timelines.
Among the missing or delayed documents were the Approved Programme-Based Budget, the Finance Act, and County Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports.
The delays negatively affected Nairobi’s overall score and raised questions about compliance with public finance management requirements.
The report also pointed to weaknesses in the disclosure of information related to development projects.
Nairobi scored only 34 out of 100 points in the capital projects category. Many of the published documents lacked important details such as project locations, budget allocations, implementation timelines, and progress updates.
Researchers noted that documents such as the Citizens Budget, commonly known as the Mwananchi Budget, and Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports did not provide enough information for residents to effectively monitor development projects and spending.
Public participation emerged as Nairobi’s weakest area, with the county scoring just 17 out of 100 points.
According to the report, several planning and budgeting documents did not provide evidence that residents had been consulted or show how public views influenced final decisions.
The findings suggest that many Nairobi residents have limited opportunities to contribute to decisions on budget priorities despite constitutional requirements for public participation.
The survey also identified weaknesses in narrative explanations accompanying financial reports and disclosures relating to pending bills, which scored 67 and 50 points respectively.
Despite the decline, the report acknowledged that Nairobi has made gradual progress over the years by increasing the number of budget documents available to the public. Researchers recommended stricter compliance with budget timelines, improved reporting on development projects, greater disclosure of revenue and expenditure information, and stronger public participation mechanisms.
Nationally, Nairobi ranked 21st out of Kenya’s 47 counties, tying with Kajiado and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties.
Makueni led the rankings with 89 points, followed by Nyeri with 88, Nakuru with 87, and Busia with 85.
The report says Nairobi now faces the task of improving transparency and rebuilding public confidence in its financial management systems as demands for accountability continue to grow.
