Uhuru allocated Sh23m more in supplementary budget

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto when Ruto paid a courtesy call on Uhuru at his rural home in Ichaweri, Kiambu county/HANDOUT

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has been allocated an additional Sh23 million in the mini-budget tabled in the National Assembly.

The revised budget increases his allocation for local travel and other transportation costs from Sh28 million to Sh29 million for the period ending June 30.

However, his foreign travel budget has been slightly reduced by Sh1 million, from Sh96 million to Sh95 million.

Several budgetary reallocations have been made for the former president’s office:

This includes Printing, Advertising, and Information Supplies & Services, whose budget has been reduced by Sh2.5 million, from Sh5.7 million to Sh3.2 million.

Training expenses have been allocated Sh400,000, a new vote that was not included in the 2024/25 financial budget.

Hospitality Supplies & Services costs have been reduced by Sh2.5 million, down from Sh24.5 million.

Insurance Costs have been increased by Sh23 million, bringing the total to Sh46 million while Office & General Supplies & Services will have their budget increased by Sh1.6 million, reaching Sh8.6 million.

The routine Maintenance & Other Assets budget has been reduced from Sh17 million to Sh16 million.

The Office Furniture Purchase budget has been allocated Sh4 million, a category that previously received no funding in the 2024/25 financial year.

The Office of the Retired President was initially allocated Sh579 million for the 2024/2025 financial year.

Last year, Uhuru’s spokesperson, Kanze Dena, protested that the Office of the Retired President had been financially starved.

Dena also raised concerns about alleged verbal communication from the State House on official matters

She also claimed a lack of response to formal communication from Uhuru’s office

However, the latest budget increase suggests that these issues have been resolved, President William Ruto would later meet with his predecessor on December 9, 2024.

MPs are expected to consider the Supplementary Budget submitted by the National Treasury before it is approved with or without amendments by the National Assembly.