The National Treasury has tabled a proposal to cut allocations to Executive Office of the President, Office of the Deputy President, the Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) and State House.
Speaking on May 28, Treasury PS Dr Chris Kiptoo asked the budget committee chaired by Kiharu legislator Ndindi Nyoro to reduce the funds meant for the three government officials even though the Treasury seeks to seek an extra Ksh17 billion for the current year.
“Mr Chairman, during the finalization of the FY 2024/25 Budget Estimates, MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) budgets were reduced in line with the revised Fiscal Framework. Further to the rationalization and subsequent submission of the FY 2024/25 Budget Estimates, we intend to review and rationalize the following votes,” said Dr Kiptoo.
Kiptoo mentioned that the funds reduced from the four offices will be redirected to initiatives such as coffee reforms, tree planting programs, boosting the budget for foreign missions, and supporting state visits.
“The savings will be used to address the ongoing reforms in the coffee sector, fight against illicit brew and abuse of drugs,” PS Kiptoo said.
Part of the savings will be reallocated to address equity participation and also reinstate budgets that were deducted from state agencies.
Kiptoo added that the funds will also go towards reinstating budget addressing shortfalls in the education, security, governance, and justice sectors.
However, the PS did not reveal the exact amounts that will be deducted from the budgets of the four offices but said a detailed list will be tabled in Parliament.
“These proposed amendments will be considered against the available resources and will be formally submitted to the National Assembly for consideration,” PS Kiptoo said.
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State House & DP’s Allocations
Treasury allocated a total of Ksh20.88 billion for the four offices in the current 2024/25 financial year (FY)budget estimates.
State House received the lion’s share of Ksh9.49 billion followed by Executive Office of the President has a budget at Ksh5.37 billion and Office of the Deputy President (Ksh4.87 billion.
In comparison to the current FY, the Executive Office of the President is set to receive an increase of Ksh1.3 billion while the DP’s allocation has been raised by Ksh600 million.
The Treasury allocated Ksh900 million for renovating the State House in Nairobi surpassing the Ksh795.4 million allocated in the current fiscal year, which ends next month.
The DP’s office was allocated Ksh2.6 million for renovation, Ksh2.5 million for the purchase of household appliances, Ksh375 million for the purpose of office furniture and fittings and Ksh2 million for the purchase of education aids and related equipment.
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Office of PCS
However, allocation to the office of the PCS has been reduced by Ksh100 million from the current Ksh1.2 billion to the proposed Ksh1.1 billion.
Kiptoo was speaking on May 28 during a meeting to discuss supplementary estimates for financial year (FY) 2023/24 and budget estimates for FY 2024/25.
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