DP Ruto’s Office Suffers Nearly 50 Percent Budget Cut As Raila Wins Big

Deputy President William Ruto’s office has suffered a massive budget cut in the 2020-2021 financial year.

Budget estimates tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani show that Ruto’s office has had its budget slashed by nearly 50 percent.

In total, the DP’s office has been allocated Sh1.4 billion down from Sh2.4 billion allocated in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

DP Ruto office’s entertainment expenditure is the greatest casualty as it has been trimmed by 87 percent from Sh193 million in the current year to Sh23.9 million in the coming year.

Similarly, the allocation on domestic travel has been reduced to Sh96 million from Sh193 million in the 2019/2020 financial year while foreign travel has been allocated Sh33 million down from Sh89 million.

In the financial year ending June 30th, 2020, the office received Sh28 million for fuel but that has been cut to Sh14 million.

The government has defended these cuts, saying they have been enforced in all offices, departments, and ministries in an effort to promote austerity.

ODM leader Raila Odinga is among the biggest beneficiaries of the 2020-2021 budget estimates.  Odinga’s office has been allocated Sh71.9 million in the financial year starting July 1st, where Sh26 million will go towards the purchase of high-end cars, Sh10 million for furniture, and Sh30 million for insurance and salaries for employees.