National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has proposed extensive policy measures to control public sector spending, including reducing expenditures across various government departments.

During the presentation of the budget highlights for 2024-25, Ndung’u emphasized that the government will streamline all budgets allocated for the procurement of motor vehicles.

Beginning July 1 of the upcoming financial year, the government intends to halt expenditures on furniture purchases, office refurbishments, and office partitioning for one year.

Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary announced plans to freeze spending on international travel and to rationalize all training costs across government entities.

Ndung’u further specified that all training activities will be limited to government institutions exclusively.

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Furthermore, the government will suspend recruitment into the public sector for the next year to manage recurring expenses effectively.

During this employment freeze, the government will conduct a thorough audit to cleanse public payrolls, aiming to eradicate ghost workers and enforce proper salary scales approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

To reduce expenses, the government will adopt technology-driven solutions across its operations.

Moreover, government agencies will be prohibited from investing surplus funds and will be required to comply with the Public Finance Management Act of 2012 and its associated regulations, mandating the surrender of such funds to the national treasury.

Budget 2024-25: CS Ndung’u freezes government hiring for one year

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National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u presented the 2024/2025 budget statement at the National Assembly on Thursday, June 13.

During the briefing, he emphasized the government’s ambitious plan, leading to a Ksh4 trillion budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year.

He detailed the government’s plan, proposing Ksh377 billion for National Security, including allocations for the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, and the National Intelligence Service.

Additionally, the CS announced a Ksh400.1 billion equitable share for county governments, a first in 12 years.

To combat corruption, the CS proposed Ksh4.2 billion for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Furthermore, Ksh6.9 billion would be allocated to the State Law Office and Ksh8.7 billion to the Office of the Auditor General.

The government also proposed Ksh656.6 billion for the Education sector, covering Ksh30 billion for Junior Secondary School interns, Ksh36 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and Ksh3 billion for the school feeding program.

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To ensure food security, Ksh54 billion was proposed for the agricultural sector, with Ksh10 billion for fertilizer subsidies and Ksh6 billion for the agricultural value chain.

An allocation of Ksh23.7 billion was proposed to support tourism, sports, culture, and recreation.

For Universal healthcare, Ksh127 billion was allocated to the health sector, including Ksh2 billion for free maternity healthcare.

Additionally, Ksh36.6 billion was allocated for water and sewerage systems.

The government also proposed Ksh5 billion for the Hustlers Fund and Ksh200 million for the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

CS Ndung’u also suggested Ksh193.4 billion for road development and Ksh25.2 billion for expanding railway transport.

Moreover, Ksh200 million was allocated for acquiring ferries for Lake Victoria and Ksh69.7 billion for the energy sub-sector.

CS Njuguna Ndung’u concluded by revealing the government’s plan to create a comprehensive tax system by expanding the tax base and reducing tax expenditure, which was 2.9% of Kenya’s GDP in 2022.

2024/2025 Budget Highlights: Breakdown of All Key Allocations

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Police officers removed a man who tried to disrupt a photo session featuring Treasury Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung’u at the National Assembly.

The man, identified as Julius Kamau, dashed towards the podium before being apprehended by police.

Kamau’s actions mirrored the online discontent among Kenyans rallying under the #RejectFinanceBill2024 hashtag to voice their dissatisfaction with the proposed legislation.

In response, Kenyans devised a campaign urging Members of Parliament to reject the Finance Bill 2024, arguing its provisions were burdensome.

Some shared contact details of lawmakers, encouraging online users to inundate them with messages and calls urging a “NO” vote on the contentious bill.

Julius Kamau is no stranger to public activism, having been previously arrested at public gatherings.

He gained attention in June 2022 for disrupting a meeting between the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and presidential candidates in Nairobi.

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During the incident, Kamau interrupted former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s session with Martha Karua, the running mate of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Brandishing a banner, Kamau demanded a private audience with Chebukati before being swiftly escorted out by security.

In another episode, he was arrested after chaining himself to a post during protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Accusing the government of neglecting its citizens and exacerbating poverty, Kamau denounced what he termed as modern-day slavery.

“People are suffering. People are dying. How is the government addressing this inefficiency?” Kamau questioned.

Beyond his activism, Kamau earns a living as a street vendor selling secondhand clothes and shoes in Nairobi’s Central Business District, actively engaging in civic matters.

Police Intercept Man at Njuguna Ndungu Pre-Budget Photo Shoot: “People are Suffering”

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