The government allocated over Ksh400 million to rehabilitate the State House in Nairobi and the office of the Deputy President currently occupied by Rigathi Gachagua.
According to budget estimates tabled before the National Assembly, the government spent Ksh200 million to repair and maintain the State House in Nairobi.
The estimates also indicated that over Ksh264 million was allocated to cater for operations and maintenance at the office of the Deputy President.
Both were listed under the Executive Office of the President, which also included the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
When Ruto assumed office, he replaced furniture at the State House, including chairs that were synonymous with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto also replaced the president’s standard and changed the profile picture of State House on social media pages.
On the other hand, Gachagua moved his operations to Harambee Annex while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was stationed at Kenya Railways Headquarters.
Besides the State House Maintenance expenditure, the State Department of Interior and Government Services spent Ksh125 million for general administration and support services.
However, the Ministry of Transport, run by Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, secured some funds to construct different road projects.
From the supplementary budget estimate, the Nairobi Eastern Bypass received Ksh4.8 billion from the National Treasury, while the construction of Thika Town roads received Ksh400 million.
In Mombasa, the construction of Makupa Causeway was allocated Ksh1.8 billion. By August 5, 2022, the National Treasury had disbursed Ksh9.4 billion for various road projects in the country.
However, the MPs led by Speaker Moses Wetangula are set to deliberate on some of the estimates and amount disbursed when the August house resumes.
“Upon resumption of the House, and as soon as the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023 is tabled, the House Business Committee shall facilitate consideration of the Report for approval in accordance with requirements of Article 223 of the Constitution,” Wetangula indicated in a notice dated Wednesday, February 1.
“In keeping with the practices of the House, consideration of the Supplementary Estimates, the Budget Policy Statement and other budget-related business is to be accorded priority during this part of the session,” Wetangula added.
However, to tackle debt, the Treasury proposed a slash in domestic borrowing from Ksh581.7 billion to Ksh415.5 billion.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
