Sh525 million budget slash raises concern in DP's office

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a funeral service at Arimi Primary School in Molo on May 15, 2025, for six of the 12 people who died in an accident involving a matatu and a lorry on the Njoro-Molo Road last week. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] The Sh100 million allocation that the Office of Deputy President (ODP) has received under development budget has been earmarked for refurbishing Harambee House Annex and the official DP's residence in Karen in the next financial year. At the same time, the office has sought reinstatement of the rationalised Sh525.4 million for the Financial Year 2025/26 to allow it discharge its mandate effectively. Principal Administrative Secretary in the ODP Moses Mbaruku presented budget estimates to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, where he pointed out the deviation between the budget estimates and approved 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) ceiling. He said the office was allocated Sh3.4 billion for 2025/26 BPS, comprising Sh3.3 billion for the recurrent expenditure and Sh100 million for development expenditure. However, in the draft budget estimates, the allocation has decreased by Sh525.4 million to Sh2.9 billion comprising Sh2.8 billion for recurrent and Sh100 million for development. "I take pleasure to submit for the consideration and request for reinstatement of the rationalized amount of Sh525.4 million. "I also appeal to this committee to consider enhancement of the allocated budget in order to ensure continuity of the planned activities, projects and programmes in the fulfilment of BETA," Mbaruku urged. Some of the items affected by rationalisation include hospitality. The office had sought an allocation of Sh694.6 million but received Sh523.8 million. For domestic travel, the amount set in BPS was Sh459.7 million but was rationalised to Sh344 million, a Sh114.9 million cut, while the foreign travel has been reduced by Sh86.3 million from Sh172.7 million to Sh86.4 million. The office had been allocated Sh39.9 million for communication but was reduced to Sh29.9 million, a deviation of Sh10 million. Fuel cost, initially allocated Sh162.6 million has also been rationalized to Sh121.9 million, motor vehicle maintenance has been cut by Sh18.6 million from Sh123.6 million to Sh105 million while routine maintenance was set to Sh59.4 million from initial allocation of Sh77.2 million. Other areas affected by rationalisation in DP's office and general supplies, specialised materials, printing and advertisement as well as compensation of employees, which have seen a cut of Sh22.2 million, Sh4.6 million, Sh15.5 million and 18.8 million, respectively. "At the same time, the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) said it requires at least Sh2.6 billion to implement its functions for the Financial Year 2025/26, which includes Sh368.4 million for employees compensation, goods and services at Sh1.8 billion and acquisition of non-financial assets at Sh451.7 million. Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) Juliana Yiapan who defended the next financial year budget before the Administration and Internal Security committee, said the approved 2025 BPS ceiling amounts to Sh926.6 million. She said the approved ceiling includes Sh239 million for compensation to employees, Sh674.9 million for use of goods and services and Sh12.7 million for acquisition of non-financial assets. "The proposed Financial Year 2025/26 has been reviewed down by Sh59.8 million from the approved 2025 BPS ceiling," she said. She said deviation for compensation to employee has been reviewed downwards by 22.2 million, use of goods and services by Sh124.6 million while that of acquisition of non-financial assets component is Sh87 million. Other areas to be affected by this review include purchase of ICT equipment and software, domestic and foreign travels as well as subsistence expenses, training expenses, fuel and oil lubricants, purchase of vehicles, hospitality supplies and services and motor vehicle maintenance among other areas.

Sh525 million budget slash raises concern in DP's office

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Sh525 million budget slash raises concern in DP's office

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