The Office of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has drawn scrutiny after Treasury data revealed it spent Sh1.34 billion between July and September 2025 equivalent to 44.9% of its Sh2.97 billion annual recurrent budget.
The figures, published in the latest Quarterly Budget Implementation Report by the National Treasury, show the office used almost half its funds in just the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year. At this rate, the allocation could be fully depleted by March 2026, well before the fiscal year ends in June.
The spending covered recurrent expenses such as salaries, travel, hospitality, and operations under the Deputy President’s office. Analysts warn the pace of expenditure raises questions about fiscal discipline, particularly as the government enforces austerity measures to manage Kenya’s Sh2.2 trillion public debt.
The revelation has sparked criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups, who argue that such high spending contradicts the administration’s commitment to financial prudence. They also contrasted the rapid absorption of funds in top government offices with delayed payments for university lecturers and stalled public school bus programmes, citing misplaced priorities.
“This level of spending within just three months shows the government is not walking the talk on austerity,” one opposition lawmaker said, calling for enhanced oversight of executive offices.
The Treasury is expected to release its half-year report early next year, which will show whether the Deputy President’s office has adjusted its spending pace. Meanwhile, budget watchdogs have urged Parliament’s Budget and Appropriations Committee to summon the Treasury for clarification on the expenditure trends.
The report comes as President William Ruto’s administration faces growing pressure to curb wasteful spending and refocus limited resources toward pressing public services.
By Michelle Ndaga
