A recent report by the Office of the Controller of Budget, led by Margaret Nyakang’o, has uncovered heavy spending by the Executive Office of the President during the 2024-2025 financial year.
The data reveals that President William Ruto’s office spent an average of Ksh 2.2 million per day on printing services alone, totaling approximately Ksh 817 million for the year.
This printing budget covered an extensive range of official documents including government policies, executive orders, directives, proclamations to ministries, bi-weekly press statements, performance contracts, crisis communications, and materials for regional media forums.
The high cost was further driven by numerous State House events, requiring premium-quality papers for invitation cards.
Beyond printing, the report shows significant expenditure of Ksh 1 billion on government advisory services.
These advisory expenses were allocated across various areas: Ksh 450 million on counter-terrorism, Ksh 150 million on strategic policy, Ksh 97 million on economic and social affairs, Ksh 62 million on Kenya-South Sudan relations, Ksh 46 million on the Power of Mercy initiative, and Ksh 251 million on public entities oversight.
President Ruto’s advisory team has grown to 20 members under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Additionally, Ksh 1.9 billion was spent on general administration and support services, while Ksh 765 million went towards leadership and coordination efforts within the Executive Office. The report did not specify costs related to construction or refurbishment activities.
On refurbishment, the report flagged Ksh 399 million spent on the State House Nairobi’s “House on the Hill,” with overall renovation costs reaching Ksh 1.17 billion and expected to be completed by 2027.
The refurbishment has been ongoing for several years, with recent house tours by President Ruto to his predecessor unveiling significant progress.
Despite government promises to curb unnecessary spending and address budget deficits, these figures raise concerns over fiscal discipline and potential wastage.
The revelations come as Kenya faces economic challenges and public pressure following the Gen Z protests which led to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.
This report highlights an urgent need for tighter budget controls, especially in the Executive Office, to align government spending with Kenya’s broader economic goals and public expectations for transparency and efficiency.
