The PMI Kenya Chapter is set to convene public sector leaders, development partners, and project management professionals for a major conference aimed at improving how Kenya delivers its development agenda.
The event, the Government and Public Sector Industry Project Management Conference 2026, will be held on 28th May 2026 in Nairobi, and is expected to bring together participants from ministries, county governments, state corporations, donor-funded programmes, and private sector organisations working closely with the government.
The conference comes at a time when questions around project delivery efficiency continue to shape public debate. Despite heavy investment in development, many projects still face delays, rising costs, or fail to fully achieve their intended outcomes, raising concerns about execution gaps within public institutions.
“Kenya has no shortage of strong policies and ambitious development plans. The challenge has consistently been in execution,” PMI Kenya Chapter President Maureen Ochang’, said.
“This conference is about equipping public sector professionals with the tools, frameworks, and networks needed to translate policy into tangible, measurable impact,” she added.
The gathering will run under the theme “Delivering Kenya’s Development Agenda Through Project Management” and the tagline “From Policy to Impact,” with a strong focus on strengthening the link between planning and actual delivery on the ground.
Kenya continues to allocate a significant share of its national budget to development spending, estimated at around 30 to 35 per cent in recent years. However, studies in project delivery across developing economies suggest that up to 40 per cent of public projects experience delays, cost overruns, or underperformance, often linked to weak project management systems.
“We are also looking at how project management can be recognised as a strategic enabler in the public sector, not just an administrative function,” Maureen Ochang said.
She noted that organisations using structured project management practices tend to waste far fewer resources compared to those without standardised systems, highlighting the potential gains in efficiency and accountability for government institutions.
Globally, demand for project management professionals is projected to grow by 33 per cent by 2027, translating into millions of new jobs, with the public sector expected to play a key role in this expansion as governments adopt more structured approaches to delivery.
The Nairobi conference will feature panel discussions, technical presentations, and case studies focusing on project governance, risk management, digital transformation, and performance measurement in public projects.
As Kenya continues to pursue long-term development goals under frameworks such as Vision 2030, organisers hope the conference will help shift focus from policy formulation to effective execution, ensuring more projects move beyond paper plans into visible results on the ground.
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