President William Ruto has come under scrutiny over a pledge to enforce strict austerity measures that he made during campaigns and after his election in 2022. Ironically, with just under a year before he seeks re-election, the presidency has emerged as one of the biggest culprits in the runaway public expenditure.
It has spent Sh33 billion in the financial year ending June 30, the highest amount ever by high-ranking State officials, a National Treasury report indicates.
The offices of President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have set a new record, with 90 per cent of the money splurged on recurrent activities.
The expenditure has hit Sh100.23 billion in four years. It dwarfs the Sh89.9 billion his predecessor, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, spent during his 10-year tenure.
An average of Sh570 million is being spent weekly or Sh82.3 million daily. The money is used to fuel high-end cars, pay per diems and buy air tickets.
State House splashed Sh18.4 billion in the second last Budget of President Ruto’s first five-year term on, among other things, hosting numerous delegations, in an apparent early campaign strategy.
The presidency’s spending during the year is, for instance, more than twice the Sh13.7 billion allocated to the State Department for the Arid Lands and Regional Development. It is also 3.3 times the Sh9.9 billion spent by the State Department for Irrigation and four times the Sh8 billion for the State Department for Co-operatives.
Controller of Budget (CoB) data justifies the public scepticism about the Executive’s fiscal discipline. State House and the offices of the President and Deputy President spent Sh298.58 million on fuel in the first six months of the 2025/26 financial year.
This suspect fiscal conduct is a mockery of the President’s commitment to fulfilling his promises that can erode public trust.
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