State House, Ruto & Kindiki’s offices to get extra Ksh.4.8 billion in supplementary budget

State House and the offices of President William Ruto and his deputy Kithure Kindiki have been allocated an extra Ksh.4.8 billion, official data shows, raising questions on the austerity measures implemented to reduce expenditure. 

This is according to the Supplementary Budget II 2024/25 that has been tabled before the National Assembly.

The document shows a Ksh.86.18 billion increase in allocation across the three arms of the government; Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. 

State House’s budget was increased from Ksh.4.3 billion in the initial estimates to Ksh.8.1 billion in the supplementary budget under the financial year 2024/25.

The bulk of the expenses are to cater for cabinet affairs, salaries, national celebrations, operations and maintenance expenses such as medical insurance. 

The budget is different from the Executive Office of the President whose budget caters to operations and maintenance expenses at Harambee House. 

Ruto’s office has been allocated an additional Ksh.651.7 million; up from Ksh.3.6 billion. 

According to the budget, Ksh.782 million has been allocated for government printing services, Ksh.1.7 billion for administration and planning, Ksh.500 million for Counter-Terrorism Advisory services and Ksh.62 million for Kenya-South Sudan advisory services. 

From Ruto’s office budget, Ksh.615 million will go to leadership services, Ksh.149 million for strategic and policy services. 

Kindiki’s office will receive a net increase of Ksh.420 million for salaries, operations, general administration, strategic policies and interventions. 

Following the anti-government protests held in July last year, President Ruto announced austerity measures to recoup the funds to be raised from the defunct Finance Bill 2024. 

Since then, critics have poked holes in Ruto’s austerity measures; claiming doublespeak in increased borrowing and spending.