Nyeri – In an unprecedented move, residents of Nyeri County have made a public appeal to the National Treasury, urging for a reduction in the budgetary allocation for the travel and hospitality expenses of President Dr. William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in the upcoming 2024/2025 Financial Year.
According to Kenya News Agency, the executive’s expenditure on foreign and domestic travel, which they believe has not delivered substantial benefits to the Kenyan people, should be curtailed. Wachira Muchemi, a local from Mathira, voiced a common sentiment at the meeting held at the YMCA hall in Nyeri town, suggesting that savings from budget cuts should be redirected towards the development and completion of ongoing government projects.
A report by the Controller of Budget revealed that the President’s office incurred Sh20.1 billion in total expenditures for the 2022/2023 financial year, with Sh361.7 million dedicated to foreign travel. The President’s office has already expended over Sh56 million on travel, while the Deputy President’s office and the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary spent Sh40.7 million and Sh21.5 million, respectively, on foreign travel.
The public forum in Nyeri is part of a broader initiative by the National Treasury, which has been canvassing public opinions across all 47 counties regarding the 2024/2025 budget and the 2024-2027 Medium Term budgets, focusing on nine key areas of priority.
Residents also highlighted the need for the timely release of pensions due to an increasing number of retirees and proposed that a budget be earmarked for compensating Nyumba Kumi elders. These community elders assist National Government Administrative Officers with local intelligence gathering and are instrumental in government service delivery, as outlined by Wachira Muchemi during the forum.
Furthermore, the citizens proposed establishing rescue centers for vulnerable groups within each of the eight sub-counties, hiring counselors and social workers, and revising the monthly stipend for the elderly and vulnerable from Sh2,000 to Sh5,000 to reflect the current economic climate, a concern raised by Ndegwa Kaburu from Kieni.
The national public participation exercise, which began on October 31, is set to conclude on November 6, marking an extensive effort to incorporate citizen input into the government’s fiscal planning and prioritization process.