A report released by the Controller of Budget has raised concerns on Ksh54.68 billion that was spent by President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration, without the approval of parliament.
The Treasury was said to have released the unbudgeted funds towards the end of Uhuru's administration.
From the Ksh55 billion, Uhuru reportedly spent Ksh4 million daily at State House on Azimio election-related activities. The former president, who is also the coalition's chairman, hosted leaders occasionally at State House.
The Uhuru-Ruto administration also spent Ksh579 million on campaigns, three months before the General Election in August 2022.
Notably, the former administration also increased the amount spent on local and international travel from Ksh14.21 billion in 2021 to Ksh20.17 billion.
Some of the money further catered for maize flour and fuel subsidies, construction of a military research hospital, and payments made to a service provider in the country.
Ksh16.6 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining for fuel subsidy and Ksh11.4 billion to the Ministry of Roads for the construction of highways.
The Ministries of Education and Agriculture got Ksh8.2 million and Ksh4.5 billion for basic education and maize flour subsidies.
Defence Ministry was allocated Ksh2.2 billion while the Ministry of Health was given Ksh420 million to fund its projects. The remaining funds were spread across various government entities.
Lawmakers privy to the report, however, raised concerns about the unbudgeted funds, accusing Uhuru's administration of misappropriating taxpayers' money.
They further argued that the government bypassed Parliament's oversight role to fund its projects and also raised concerns about the source of funds for the next budget.
Spending unbudgeted funds, they opined, is detrimental to the country's economy, especially with Kenya's heavy borrowing spirit and a ballooning wage bill.
“This issue requires legislative intervention. We cannot continue abusing the Constitution like this. It has to stop,” Kitui Rural MP David Mwalika stated.
Government is, nonetheless, at liberty to spend unbudgeted funds on the condition that it tables a mini-budget two months after withdrawing the funds.
The developments come a few days after President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, lamented that they inherited a dilapidated economy and a broke nation. Ruto ended fuel subsidies and also lowered the cost of fertilizer to cushion Kenyans.
