CS BARASA LEADS HER TEAM IN PRESENTING THE 2026 BUDGET POLICY STATEMENTS AS MINING PS IS TURNED AWAY FOR APPEARING WITHOUT CS JOHO

CS BARASA LEADS HER TEAM IN PRESENTING THE 2026 BUDGET POLICY STATEMENTS AS MINING PS IS TURNED AWAY FOR APPEARING WITHOUT CS JOHO

Parliament Buildings, Bunge Tower. Thursday, January 19th, 2026.

The Environment Forestry and Mining Committee led by Mwala MP. Hon. Vincent Musyoka has received the 2026 Budget Policy Statements from the three State Departments under its purview with two out of the three State Departments - the State Department for Environment and Climate Change and the State Department for Forestry - led by CS Dr. Deborah Barasa explaining and defending their Policies. Their counterparts in the State Department for Mining were however not allowed to make their presentation since they appeared without CS Ali Hassan Joho.
The PS in the State Department for Environment and Climate Change Eng. Festus Ng'eno in his presentation cited budget shortfalls that needed the intervention of the Committee. "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". 
This was qualified by CS Deborah Barasa who pointed out a budget deficit gap of Kshs 2.2 Billion reflecting 46% for 29 capital projects to be implemented in the FY 2026/2027. She said that a total of Kshs 4.8 billion was required but the State Department was allocated only Kshs 2 billion. 
They also went further to advocate for the timely release of the exchequer to ensure the smooth execution of prioritised activities in the annual work plan and budget. 
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) both appearing under PS Ng'eno asked that the treasury provide resources to enable then employ more staff to help collect more own-source revenues and execute their statutory mandates. 
CS Barasa went ahead to also represent the State Department for Forestry after PS Mr. Gitonga Mugambi was asked to step out of the meeting following school demolitions in Baringo South. Committee Chairperson cited conflict of interest since the affected MP, Hon. Charles Kamuren who is the Committee Vice Chairperson was not comfortable with the presence of PS Mugambi and the Chief Conservetor Mr. Alex Lemarkoko who are allegedly said to have led the unfortunate operation on claims the school was sitting on Kenya Forest Service land. 
The CS while presenting their Budget Policy Statement, asked that the Committee consider intervening and pushing for additional allocation to enable the State Department of Forestry achieve the 30% Forest cover plan in the country. 
"Hon. Members, an additional 9.6 Billion being the total resource gap is needed here for us to attain this in the FY 2026/2027, we continue to thank this Committee and Parliament at large for the support given to the State Department of Forestry, we ask for same support in areas of oversight, resource allocation and policy formulation for improved service delivery", CS Barasa. 
Committee Members however sought a practical example of the tree planting projects that have worked in the country, with Hon. Joseph Emathe, MP Turkana Central and his colleague Hon. Titus Lotee, MP Kacheliba citing Turkana, Pokot and other Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas as those that have been forgotten for Environment and Climate Action programs. 
Hon. Beatrice Kemei, MP Kericho called upon the State Departments for Environment and Forestry to allocate resources specifically targeting women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and marginalised communities in climate resilience, national tree growing programme and other initiatives.
The State Department for Mining was the last to appear, they did not make their presentation before the Committee, PS Harry Kimtai who appeared without CS in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hon. Ali Hassan Joho was only allowed to table the Policy without explanation. 
Committee Chairperson Hon. Musyoka in consultation with other Members said the PS couldn't present the policy without the CS who did not give any formal explanation on why he skipped the very important exercises of the Budget cycle. The decision was in accordance with Article 232 of the Standing Orders.