The Controller of Budget, Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, has raised alarms over how the government spent Ksh.51 billion in just six months without proper approval.
According to Dr. Nyakang’o’s report on government spending for the first half of the financial year, there are questions about how the government managed to use such a large sum without clearance from her office or the National Assembly.
Dr. Nyakang’o’s report reveals that the government exploited a legal gap to spend more money than allowed by law, utilizing Article 223 of the Constitution.
This article permits ministries, departments, and agencies to access additional funds if the appropriated amount is insufficient or a pressing need exists.
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“The government used a whopping Ksh.51 billion over six months on various expenses, some of which were not emergencies, taking advantage of Article 223,” Dr. Nyakang’o noted.
Among these expenses, State House renovations stand out. In October, the State House accessed Sh.700 million for a modern presidential dais, and in July, Sh.400 million was allocated for vehicle purchases.
Additionally, the East African Community State Department received Sh.16.3 million for official vehicle purchases in August.
Other significant expenditures included Ksh.1.82 billion for stabilizing petroleum pump prices, Sh.2.4 billion for relief food and non-food items, Sh.200 million for El Nino response by the Ministry of Defence, and Sh.2.24 billion for maize drying and storage facilities by the State Department for crop and development.
While the law allows for such spending under Article 223, it also mandates seeking Parliament’s consent within two months of withdrawal. However, only sh.3.29 billion of the total spending had the necessary approvals.
The report also highlights the government’s spending priorities, with most of the sh.1.4 trillion disbursed going towards recurrent expenditure.
A significant portion, Sh.291 billion, was allocated for personnel emoluments, while only Sh.70.41 billion was used for development by government agencies.
This spending surge comes amidst concerns raised by the Controller of Budget about the ballooning public debt, which exceeded the legal limit to reach Sh.11.14 trillion by the end of 2023.
Dr. Nyakang’o is urging the government to control its borrowing appetite and ensure proper oversight of expenditure to avoid further financial strain.
