CS Barasa Leads Team in Presenting 2026 Budget Policy Statements as Mining PS Turned Away for Appearing Without CS Joho

The National Assembly’s Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee on Thursday received the 2026 Budget Policy Statements from two of the three State Departments under its oversight, as the State Department for Mining was barred from making its presentation for appearing without its Cabinet Secretary.

The Committee, chaired by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, heard submissions from the State Department for Environment and Climate Change and the State Department for Forestry, both led by Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa.

However, the State Department for Mining, whose parent ministry is headed by Ali Hassan Joho, was not allowed to proceed with its presentation after Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai appeared before the Committee without the CS. Members ruled that the PS could only table the document without making any explanatory remarks.

Budget Deficit in Environment Sector

Presenting the Budget Policy Statement for Environment and Climate Change, Principal Secretary Eng. Festus Ng’eno highlighted significant funding shortfalls and called on the Committee to lobby for increased allocations.

“Hon. Chair, I want to call on this Committee to help the State Department to advocate and lobby for additional budgetary allocation to ensure planned policies, projects and programmes in the sub-sector are implemented,” he said.

CS Barasa further disclosed that the department faces a Kshs 2.2 billion deficit—amounting to 46 per cent—for 29 capital projects planned for the 2026/2027 financial year. While the department requires Kshs 4.8 billion, only Kshs 2 billion has been allocated.

The CS also appealed for timely exchequer releases to facilitate smooth implementation of prioritized activities in the annual work plan.

Agencies under the department, including the National Environmental Management Authority and the Kenya Meteorological Department, urged the National Treasury to provide additional resources to enable recruitment of staff. They argued that increased staffing would enhance own-source revenue collection and support the effective execution of their statutory mandates.

Forestry Department Seeks Kshs 9.6 Billion Boost

CS Barasa also presented the Budget Policy Statement for the State Department for Forestry after PS Gitonga Mugambi was asked to step out of the meeting over a perceived conflict of interest linked to school demolitions in Baringo South.

Committee Vice Chairperson and area MP Charles Kamuren had raised concerns over the presence of the PS and Chief Conservator Alex Lemarkoko, who are alleged to have overseen the demolition of a school said to have been built on land belonging to the Kenya Forest Service.

In her presentation, CS Barasa requested the Committee’s intervention in securing an additional Kshs 9.6 billion to bridge the resource gap and support the government’s ambitious target of attaining 30 per cent forest cover by FY 2026/2027.

“Hon. Members, an additional Kshs 9.6 billion being the total resource gap is needed here for us to attain this target,” she said, while thanking Parliament for its continued oversight and support.

MPs Demand Inclusivity and Focus on ASAL Areas

Committee members pressed for tangible examples of successful tree-planting initiatives, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Turkana Central MP Joseph Emathe and Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee cited regions such as Turkana and Pokot as areas that have lagged behind in environmental and climate action programmes.

Kericho MP Beatrice Kemei called for targeted allocation of resources to women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalized communities within climate resilience and national tree-growing programmes.

Mining Department Blocked from Presenting

When it was the turn of the State Department for Mining, the Committee declined to allow PS Kimtai to present the policy statement in the absence of CS Joho, who had not provided a formal explanation for his absence.

Chairperson Musyoka, in consultation with members, ruled that the presentation could not proceed without the Cabinet Secretary, citing provisions of Article 232 of the Standing Orders governing accountability during the budget cycle.

The Committee is expected to compile its report and recommendations to the House as part of the ongoing budget review process for the 2026/2027 financial year.