Government Moves to Audit All State-Owned Buildings to Curb Rental Costs

The Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management has welcomed a Cabinet decision to audit all government-owned buildings across the country. Cyrell Wagunda said the exercise will help reduce avoidable rental expenditure, improve use of existing facilities and guide a practical programme of rehabilitation, consolidation and future investment.

Cabinet noted that many government buildings remain under-utilised or require rehabilitation while spending on privately leased office space continues to rise. New leasing of office accommodation has been suspended pending the comprehensive audit.

Wagunda made the remarks at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete during a high-level meeting with National Government Administrative Officers. Regional and county commissioners, together with administration directors from ministries and agencies, have been tasked with coordinating the process. An inter-agency taskforce working with the Department of National Assets and Liabilities will steer the work.

The objective is to establish a reliable picture of what the state owns, where facilities are located, their condition and whether space is being used efficiently. Existing government accommodation should be prioritised, buildings properly maintained, and future decisions on leasing, rehabilitation, construction or relocation based on verified data.

The State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management will work with Public Works and the National Treasury. Technical expertise on building measurements, condition assessments, space standards and leased accommodation will be combined with asset registration, utilisation analysis and policy development.

National Government Administrative Officers previously supported large-scale farmer registration exercises and are expected to play a similar coordinating role in data collection and verification nationwide. The audit is intended to deliver safer, functional working environments while improving value for money in public accommodation.

Rising rental costs have placed pressure on ministerial budgets. In some cases government departments occupy expensive private space while state-owned buildings nearby stand partially empty or in need of repair. A systematic inventory will allow better matching of demand with available stock.

Condition assessments will identify buildings that can be rehabilitated cost-effectively and those that may require more extensive intervention or eventual disposal. Consolidation of offices into fewer, well-maintained locations can reduce both rental outlays and operational overheads.

The suspension of new leases provides a clear signal that the status quo is under review. Successful implementation of the audit will depend on accurate data collection by officers on the ground and timely analysis by the taskforce. Results are expected to inform a longer-term strategy for government office accommodation.