Uhuru, Ruto among top guzzlers of tax money
The Presidency is among the biggest spenders of public funds in the last six months, the latest report reveals.
The Presidency which covers the office of Deputy President William Ruto spent Sh513 million salaries and allowances during the first six months of the current financial year, a report by the Controller of Budget reveals.
The document further shows the offices also spent Sh552 million on what is classified as “other operations and maintenance costs.”
The President and his deputy’s foreign and domestic travel accounted for another Sh250 million over the six months.
FOREIGN TRIPS
Out of the total amount, Sh177.1 million was spent on domestic travel and Sh75 million on foreign trips.
The report states that the Presidency, which comprises Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto’s offices, spent Sh68.4 million on maintenance of vehicles and Sh15.9 million on training.
The presidency, according to the report, spent Sh154.7 million on hospitality, conferences and catering.
The Department of Interior, according to the report, used Sh118 million as confidential expenditure and Sh114.2 million for production supplies.
“The State Department for Interior had the highest expenditure in four other categories; training cost Sh223.8 million, legal fees took up Sh234.5 million, maintenance of vehicles and other assets cost Sh213.5 million and Sh79.3 million, respectively,” the report reads.
On the other hand, MPs and senators incurred the highest expenditure in domestic travel at Sh1.04 billion, while the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade had the highest expenditure in the foreign travel category at Sh604.9 million.
Another report obtained from the Office of the President shows Sh425,000 was given to officers working at State House Mombasa.
At State House Nakuru, Sh7.6 million was used to run it during the period under review.
State lodges located in Sagana, Kisumu, Eldoret and Kakamega spent a cumulative of Sh45 million during the last quarter with Kisumu recording the lowest expenditure of Sh3.8 million.
RENOVATIONS
Kakamega had the highest expenditure at Sh24.6 and Sagana Lodge Sh11.8 million.
According to the report, Sh12.4 million was used to refurbish a residential building and Sh8 million to renovate non-residential buildings in the DP’s office.
The Cabinet Office headquarters spent a total of Sh50 million on capital grants and Sh2 million to rehabilitate residential buildings.
The report says Sh15 million was used to refurbish a residential building at State House Mombasa.
The analysis also reveals that Sh3.3 million was used by the Cabinet secretariat for fuelling and maintaining vehicles.
The report says that the Auditor-General’s office spent Sh88.9 million for contracted professional services, audit of the Constitution and software licenses as well as Sh65.4 million medical insurance.