A fresh report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has raised eyebrows after revealing shocking levels of expenditure in President William Ruto’s office.
According to the report, the Executive Office of the President splashed an average of Ksh2.2 million every single day on printing services in the 2024/2025 financial year. This revelation comes despite President Ruto’s earlier pledge to enforce strict austerity measures to cut down on government wastage.
Out of the Ksh4 billion allocated to the President’s office, Ksh817 million was directed towards printing alone—equivalent to Ksh68 million monthly. The costs covered printing of government policies, executive orders, directives, proclamations, performance contracts, weekly press statements, and communications during crises.
Sources indicate that the bill may have further ballooned due to the high number of State House guests, with glossy invitation cards printed on premium paper significantly pushing up costs.
The Controller of Budget’s report also exposed other staggering expenditures:
- Ksh1.9 billion on general administration, planning, and support services.
- Ksh750 million on leadership and coordination.
- Ksh1 billion on advisers, including:
- Ksh62 million on Kenya–South Sudan advisory services.
- Ksh97 million on Economic & Social Affairs.
- Ksh46 million on Power of Mercy advisory.
- Ksh150 million on strategic policy advisory.
- Ksh251 million on public entities oversight advice.
- Ksh765 million on leadership and coordination services.
Additionally, State House reportedly spent Ksh399 million on refurbishing the President’s office, with construction works already gobbling up over Ksh1.2 billion. The renovations are expected to continue until 2027, when they are projected to be fully completed.
The revelations have sparked fresh debate among Kenyans on whether the government is truly committed to cutting costs—or whether taxpayers are footing the bill for unchecked extravagance at the top.
