The budget allocation for the purchase of new cars for Kenya’s top three government offices has increased eightfold in the most recent budget changes, which also benefited retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
President William Ruto’s office, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s office, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s office have been allocated Sh802.2 million to buy motor vehicles in the current financial year, a significant increase from what was previously allocated as Kenyans come to terms with a bloated government that has scuttled Kenya Kwanza’s austerity measures.
The three offices were allocated Sh100.8 million in the budget estimates for Financial Year 2022/23, though the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary was not included. However, excluding the Prime CS only reduces spending by 10%, or Sh80 million.
Mr Gachagua is the biggest beneficiary of the three, with his office receiving Sh290.8 million for the vehicles, an increase of Sh200 million over the Sh90.8 million previously allocated by former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.
In total, the budget for the purchase of new cars for all State bodies in the current fiscal year ending June more than doubled to Sh2.06 billion from the original budget of Sh810.3 million, with the three offices accounting for more than 40% of the budget.
The three top offices received more money for new cars than the Office of the Inspector General of Police, which received Sh574 million to relocate police officers who protect more than 50 million Kenyans.
This comes just days after Mr Yatani publicly chastised Mr Gachagua in a rare budget spat between a former Finance Minister and an incoming high-ranking government official, for requesting an additional Sh300 million to purchase a fleet of cars, a request that was partially denied due to cash shortages.
The President’s Office and Cabinet Secretaries were also given an additional Sh154 million for cars, while retired President Kenyatta was given Sh140 million for a fleet of cars in his retirement.
The latest changes increased the allocation for State House Nairobi from Sh10 million to Sh35 million. Dr. Ruto’s car budget is expected to rise further as he considers the vehicles required by the 50 newly appointed chief administrative secretaries.
This comes just days after President Ruto stated that he would cut extravagance and wasteful spending as part of his efforts to limit the country’s debt appetite, which has left the country with limited fiscal space, despite the fact that Kenya’s credit rating outlook has been downgraded by various global agencies.
