Treasury orders State agencies to dispose of idle assets by December

Nairobi, Kenya - On October 19, the National Treasury of Kenya has instructed public agencies to identify and dispose of unusable, idle and surplus assets by the end of this year, warning that retaining such assets raises expenses and risks wasting public funds. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi issued a directive, requiring accounting officers and heads of government bodies to implement the task in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015.

Entities must submit progress reports on the initiative to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority by December 31, 2026, with a copy forwarded to the Treasury.

Mbadi emphasized that holding onto assets that are no longer needed results in additional deterioration, loss of value, and increased storage and maintenance expenses. This can also lead to congestion, security issues, and accountability risks. The Treasury will monitor compliance with the directive in collaboration with the PPRA and other oversight bodies.

Furthermore, Mbadi urged public entities to explore the reasons behind asset obsolescence or surplus and implement measures to prevent unnecessary accumulation. He encouraged government agencies to utilize digital platforms to enhance asset tracking and reporting, ensuring officers responsible for managing and disposing of public assets are aware of their legal responsibilities and held accountable.