The government is developing guidelines to unlock small and micro Public-Private Partnerships, with plans to set up a dedicated unit to tap opportunities at the county level.

National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi says 37 projects, both national and county, are in the pipeline and will be financed through the Public-Private Partnerships model. he says this will free up public resources for essential social sectors such as health, education, and water

The government requires about Ksh 560 billion annually to develop and maintain infrastructure, but only allocates about Ksh 224 billion leaving a funding gap of Ksh 336 billion each year.

To bridge the shortfall, the National Treasury through the PPP Directorate plans to mobilize Ksh 293.6 billion in the current financial year for key projects.

These includes the Galana Kulalu Food Security Programme, the Africa 50-backed high voltage transmission line, the Nairobi-Mau Summit Road, and the Sabaki Water and Sanitation Project to supply water in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.

Mbadi says the government has curated a portfolio of 37 projects for Public-Private Partnerships.

He says the Public-Private Partnership model will allow the state to deliver large-scale infrastructure traditionally funded through public debt while freeing up public resources for essential services.

However, officials acknowledge that the PPP Act of 2021 is yet to become fully operational, slowing project turnaround times.