David Ndii, Other Ruto's Advisers Allocated KSh 1.1b In Salaries And Entertainment, Spark Reactions

• The economic transformation office led by Augustine Cheruiyot will spend KSh 239.4 million, while David Ndii's Council of Economic Advisors budget was set at KSh 194.5 million
• Ndii's team will spend KSh 88 million on travel, KSh 9.4 million on communication (airtime and mobile phones) and KSh 23 million on entertainment
• Former Treasury Cabinet secretary Henry Rotich, who now leads the Fiscal affairs and budget policy team, would be funded to the tune of KSh 100 million

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenyan taxpayers will bear an additional burden in the 2024/2025 financial year as the cost of maintaining President William Ruto's six advisory units is set to soar.

According to documents tabled in parliament, the budget for salaries, entertainment, and other perks for the units will increase from KSh 977 million to KSh 1.14 billion on July 1.

What will each advisory unit get?

The economic transformation office led by Augustine Cheruiyot will spend KSh 239.4 million.

David Ndii's Council of Economic Advisors budget was set at KSh 194.5 million.

Daily Nation reported that women rights adviser Harriet Chigai's office was allocated KSh 129.2 million, while national security adviser Monica Juma would receive KSh 109.7 million.

At the same time, former Treasury Cabinet secretary Henry Rotich, who now leads the Fiscal affairs and budget policy team, would be funded KSh 100 million.

Council of Climate Change Advisor under Ali Mohamed got KSh 55.07 million. Meanwhile, headquarters and salaries would gobble KSh 286.23 million.

Ndii's team will spend KSh 88 million on travel, KSh 9.4 million on communication (airtime and mobile phones) and KSh 23 million on entertainment.

How did Kenyans react?

Pauline Njoroge:

"Hustler economists are living well well."

Cornelius Ronoh:

"David Ndii is enjoying life to the fullest; money is not a problem."

Gabriel Oguda posed:

"Daktari, @DavidNdii, Kwani you guys are travelling to the moon?"

Makau Muli:

"Slashing HELB to increase allocation for David Ndii is not wise at all."

Captain Kipkorir:

"It's no wonder why David Ndii is mocking us here."

Brian Mutiga:

"Tell me why David Ndii's office deserves KSh 194m while our medical interns, JSS interns, police officers & nurses, patriots who do the most to make Kenya a better place are poorly paid. It's funny how it's the normal Kenyans that President Ruto wants to live within their means.

How much was the presidency allocated?

• President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s offices are set to receive more billions of shillings in the next financial year as budget cuts hit ministries.
• The Executive Office of the President will receive KSh 1.3 billion more than this year’s allocation, while the DPs will increase by KSh 600 million. However, parastatals were ordered to cut expenditures by 30%.
• On the other hand, the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was allocated KSh 1.1 billion, which is 100 million lower than the KSh 1.2 billion in the current budget.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke