State House is now requesting the return of Kshs 1.7 billion out of the Kshs 5 billion previously cut to enable payment for the staff of the disbanded office of First Lady Rachael Ruto.
Yesterday, the Administrator of State House, Katoo Ole Metito, asked MPs to consider reinstating at least Kshs 1.7 billion, which includes Kshs 591 million intended for the salaries of staff in the First Lady's office.
Despite the dissolution of the office by President William Ruto as part of austerity measures following the rejection of the 2024 Finance Bill, Mr. Ole Metito told MPs that the workers had contracts that the government must honor. When he appeared before the administration and internal security committee regarding the extra budget estimate, Mr. Ole Metito explained that some workers in the office have three-year contracts while others have five-year contracts. Therefore, they must be compensated even if the office has been disbanded.
President William Ruto announced that his administration would eliminate budgetary allocations for the offices of the First Lady, the spouses of the Deputy President, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary. He stated that, moving forward, budget allocations for these offices would be removed.
The President introduced a series of measures aimed at implementing and enhancing austerity measures.
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