Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of planning to misuse KSh6.2 billion through a supplementary budget, alleging that the funds are being allocated to expenditure items that lack sufficient oversight.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gachagua claimed that the government was on a “looting spree” as the 2024/25 financial year draws to a close.
“Acknowledging that his game is over, they are saying it is injury time. That is the mantra,” Gachagua said, referring to President Ruto and his allies.
The former Deputy President alleged that the funds would be drawn through budget lines categorized as maintenance and operations, other operating expenses, and security operations.
According to him, the allocations involve the State House, the Office of the Deputy President, the State Department for Internal Security, and the National Intelligence Service.
Gachagua further claimed that the money would be used for political activities, including voter bribery, financing political mobilization efforts, influencing legislators, and supporting empowerment programmes ahead of upcoming political contests, including the Ol Kalou by-election.
“This is happening when hospitals have no drugs, cancer patients are in deep pain, our students have no capitation, and university and college students have no funding,” he said.
The former Deputy President criticized the government’s spending priorities, arguing that essential public services were being neglected while significant amounts of money were being directed toward non-priority expenditures.
He concluded his statement with a prayer for the country, saying: “Lord God, please have mercy on our beloved country, Kenya.”
The government had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
The supplementary budget allocations are expected to face scrutiny from Parliament and other oversight institutions as the financial year comes to a close.
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