A report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang'o, has exposed alleged massive wastage of taxpayers' funds in the Executive Office of the President.
According to Nyakang'o, President William Ruto's office spent Ksh2 million per day on printing services during the 2024/2025 financial year, despite the Head of State's promise of austerity measures.
Out of the Ksh4 billion budget allocated to the President's office, State House spent Ksh817 million annually on printing, a figure which translates to Ksh68 million monthly and Ksh2.2 million daily.
The services include paper used to print government policies, executive orders, directives and proclamations issued to ministries and other government agencies.
Other printing services carried out during the financial year included performance contracts, weekly press statements, periodic government communications during crises and regional media forums.
Reports indicate that the printing costs may also have increased due to the number of guests occasionally invited to the State House for engagements, which required high-quality paper for invitation cards.
Nyakang'o's report also revealed that President Ruto's office spent Ksh1.9 billion on general administration, planning and support services, and Ksh750 million on leadership and coordination.
The Controller of Budget further flagged a Ksh1 billion expenditure on the President's advisers. Within advisory services, Ksh62 million was spent on Kenya and South Sudan advisory services.
Ruto's office also spent Ksh46 million on Power of Mercy advisory and Ksh97 million on Economic and Social Affairs advisory.
During the same period, State House spent Ksh150 million on strategic policy advisory, Ksh251 million on public entities oversight advice and Ksh765 million on leadership and coordination services.
The report also disclosed that State House spent Ksh399 million on the refurbishment of the President's office, with works currently at 66 per cent.
According to the Controller of Budget, all constructions within State House have consumed over Ksh1.2 billion, with the refurbishments expected to be completed by 2027.
