Nairobi, June 11 -- President William Ruto's administration has unveiled an ambitious infrastructure programme in its final budget before next year's general election, betting on private capital and innovative financing models to deliver mega projects while avoiding a fresh build-up of public debt.

Presenting the Sh4.82 trillion Budget for the 2026/27 financial year, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi outlined a strategy that seeks to bridge Kenya's estimated $5 billion (Sh647 billion) annual infrastructure financing gap through public-private partnerships (PPPs), securitisation of levies, the newly established National Infrastructure Fund and other alternative financing instruments.

The shift marks a significant departure from the i...