President William Ruto has announced a significant shift in government spending, revealing that the offices of the First Lady and Second Lady will no longer receive budget allocations starting this fiscal year.
The announcement was made during a media roundtable on Sunday evening, highlighting the government’s commitment to implementing austerity measures amidst economic challenges.
President Ruto stated that the decision was influenced by public opinion and the need to curb unnecessary expenditure.
“I know citizens have said there is no need for the office of the First Lady and Second Lady. These offices have been in existence, but we must live within our means. From tomorrow, they will no longer be part of our equation,”
The fiscal year 2024/25, which begins on July 1, had allocated Ksh 696 million to the Office of the First Lady, Rachel Ruto, which was Ksh 100 million more than the previous year. The Office of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s spouse, Dorcas, was allocated Ksh 557 million.
President Ruto also emphasized that austerity measures would not be limited to these offices. The Office of the President itself would see a reduction in the number of staff, reflecting a commitment to trimming down costs across all levels of government.
“We are going to cut our coat according to the size of our cloth,” Ruto remarked, underscoring the need for financial prudence.
In addition to defunding the offices of the First Lady and Second Lady, President Ruto announced the shelving of plans to appoint Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs). The CAS positions, which had been a point of contention, were initially proposed in March 2023 but were deemed unconstitutional by the courts. Despite Parliament later rationalizing the framework, Ruto decided against reappointing them due to economic constraints.
The CASs were slated to occupy a significant place in the ministry hierarchy, positioned directly under Cabinet Secretaries and above Principal Secretaries. They were to receive substantial salaries and benefits, including a monthly salary of Ksh 765,138, a house allowance of Ksh 200,000, and various other perks such as a car grant and health cover.
Furthermore, President Ruto addressed the issue of government officials’ participation in harambees, a form of community fundraising. He pointed out that these events have often been seen as opportunities for displaying wealth and opulence, which has fueled public discontent. Moving forward, public officers may be barred from participating in harambees to reduce perceptions of extravagance.
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