Leadership squandering funds is our actual predicament, not financial scarcity
Kenya is grappling with a fiscal crisis, and it's not just about revenue shortfalls. The country's spending habits, particularly at the top, are a significant part of the problem.
According to recent reports, Kenya's overall recurrent expenditure consumes nearly 65% of the annual budget. One of the major contributors to this runaway consumption is the Presidency, whose budget includes allocations for hospitality, domestic and foreign travel, motor vehicle purchases, State House renovations, and special projects.
The Presidency's excesses are under scrutiny, with many questioning what exactly Kenyans are funding through these billions. Are we paying for convoys of gas-guzzlers? For entourages of hundreds at foreign trips? For renovations of residences that should be modest? For "communication" budgets that run into billions while schools cannot afford chalk?
In 2013/14, the Presidency's budget was about Sh5.4 billion. This figure has nearly tripled under President Ruto's first full budget for 2023/24, standing at approximately Sh14.6 billion. In the 2021/22 fiscal year, the Presidency had over Sh4.5 billion set aside for confidential spending, a line item whose use is shielded from public scrutiny.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 charges the salaries of the President and Deputy President directly to the Consolidated Fund. However, it seems that the Presidency's spending extends far beyond salaries, leading to concerns about accountability and transparency.
The budget for the Presidency is not the only issue. Parliament, the supposed watchdog of the public purse, has become complicit, year after year, passing these inflated allocations without serious scrutiny. The Budget and Appropriations Committee rarely questions the need for Sh2 billion for State House hospitality or the additional budget for the Deputy President's "miscellaneous" expenses.
This lack of oversight contributes to the executive's bloated nature. Instead of scrutinizing these budgets, the committee rubber-stamps them, allowing for runaway consumption at the top.
Meanwhile, the reality facing the rest of the country is starkly different. Hospitals lack drugs, schools rely on harambees to build classrooms, and small businesses collapse under the weight of pending bills.
The solution to Kenya's fiscal crisis does not lie in squeezing citizens further. Instead, it requires the Presidency to stop consuming like royalty and start leading like a republic. The Presidency should reduce entourages and convoys, adopt a culture of humility in state functions, and consider flying economy or attending events with a small team instead of a caravan of SUVs.
It's time for a change in spending habits at the top. A change that reflects the realities and struggles of the Kenyan people. A change that will help steer the country towards a more sustainable and equitable fiscal future.
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