The National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, July 24 proposed several budget cuts for the first Supplementary Estimates for the financial year 2024/25.
Chaired by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro, the committee proposed a Ksh100,000 reduction in the hospitality services in the office of the Deputy President.
The DP's office was among the offices in which the committee proposed budget cuts.
According to the Supplementary Budget for the said financial year, the office of the DP will face some budget cuts including the scrapping of construction for any targeted works at his Harambee House Annex.
"The Approved Estimates have been revised from Ksh4.9 billion to Ksh2.7 billion under the FY 2024/25 Supplementary Estimates No. 1, reflecting a net decrease of Ksh2.2 billion on account of rationalization of expenditures," read part of the budget.
Additionally, the budget for the maintenance of his official residence was also reduced by 100 per cent.
However, some sectors in the office of the DP will not be affected by the cuts such as administration services, affairs coordination and the level of cross-cutting services mainstreamed.
Besides Gachagua, the committee also proposed changes in the National Police Service including an increase of Ksh20 million for the security operation at the headquarters, a Ksh80 million addition for enhancing operation at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and a Ksh35 million increase for public participation projects.
The NPS will also have an additional Ksh3.5 billion to enhance wages for police officers. The service will however face a Ksh3.2 billion reduction from the planned recruitment of 2,862 police officers.
Other areas the committee suggest budget cuts include Ksh700 million for sugar reform, Ksh2.5 billion from the fertiliser subsidy under the State Department for Crop Development, The State Department for Environment and Climate Change, the National Treasury, teh State Department for Medical Services and the State Law Office are also affected.
Furthermore, other departments include the State Department for Irrigation, State Department for Water & Sanitation, department for Blue Economy and Fisheries, department for Information Communication and Technology and Innovation, State Department for Energy and State Department for Petroleum.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the State Department for Labour, the State Department of Devolution, the State Department of Trade, and the State Department for Roads were among other state agencies affected.
However, the committee did not propose any budget cuts for the Office of the President or the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
