Ruto’s ‘Slash Spending’ Pledge in Tatters as He Adds More Advisors – Taxpayers Bleed Ksh 1.1B
President William Ruto has once again broken his promise to reduce government spending by appointing more advisors, despite earlier pledges to cut costs.
Ruto’s Promise of Austerity Measures
In response to public pressure, especially from young Kenyans protesting against the Finance Bill 2024, Ruto had announced strict austerity measures to reduce government expenses. These included:
- Cutting the number of government advisors by 50%.
- Removing budgets for unconstitutional offices like those of the First Lady, Second Lady, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s spouse.
- Eliminating confidential budgets in executive offices.
- Dissolving 47 state corporations with overlapping roles.
More Advisors Added to the Council
However, in December 2024, just four months after these promises, Ruto appointed four more advisors to the Council of Economic Advisors. This brought the total number of advisors to 12, despite his initial pledge to limit it to four.
Among the new appointees were:
- Moses Kuria, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary.
- Prof. Adams Oloo, a political analyst.
- Joe Ager, an economist.
- Dr. Silvestor Okumu Kasuku, a governance expert.
These appointments have sparked public debate, with many questioning the cost of maintaining such a large advisory team. Reports revealed that their annual cost to taxpayers is Ksh1.1 billion. In response, Ruto’s top economic advisor, David Ndii, defended the budget, stating that most of it is used for policy meetings rather than salaries.
Government Reshuffle and New Appointments
In addition to hiring more advisors, Ruto also made significant changes in his administration. The reshuffle led to:
- Edward Kisiang’ani, formerly the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, being reassigned as a senior advisor.
- Stephen Isaboke taking over Kisiang’ani’s previous position.
- Amos Gathecha being promoted to Deputy Head of Public Service.
- Dr. Caroline Wanjiru Karugu, a former Nyeri Deputy Governor, becoming Principal Secretary for East African Community (EAC) Affairs.
- Fredrick Ouma Oluga, ex-KMPDU Secretary-General, being named Principal Secretary for Medical Services.
These new appointments resulted in the creation of seven additional State Departments, further increasing government expenditure.
Public Concerns Over Government Growth
Many Kenyans are now questioning whether Ruto’s government is truly committed to reducing spending. The expansion of advisors and new state departments contradicts the President’s earlier promises of lean governance. With the economy struggling, critics argue that the government should focus on efficiency rather than creating more positions.
As the administration continues making changes, Kenyans are watching closely to see if Ruto will uphold his promises or continue to expand his government, despite calls for austerity.
Ruto’s ‘Slash Spending’ Pledge in Tatters as He Adds More Advisors – Taxpayers Bleed Ksh 1.1B
