Kenyan Newspapers Review: William Ruto's Advisers To Gobble KSh 1.1b In Salaries, Entertainment

On Friday, May 10, Kenyan newspapers reported that the cost of maintaining President William Ruto's six advisory units will exceed KSh 1 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year.

The dailies also reported that more than 1,600 schools were not ready for learning, as floods still submerged some, while others were destroyed and had yet to be repaired.

1. Daily Nation

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 soars.

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.

The high-profile advisers include David Ndii, Henry Rotich, Monica Juma and Augustine Cheruiyot.

2. The Standard

The publication reported a looming crisis in schools when learning resumes next week, as over 1,600 institutions were either submerged by water or destroyed by floods.

School heads were up in arms over the delayed disbursement of funds to repair the institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu said 95% of schools were ready for re-opening.

"We have informed the Board of Management of the affected schools to take due diligence so that the children can be safe," Machogu assured.

The ministry adjusted second-term dates following the postponement of re-opening twice.

3. People Daily

Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bittok has revealed the government collects at least KSh 700 million daily on the eCitizen platform.

Bittok noted the payment platform has 13 million users enjoying government services online and targets 30 million subscribers by December.

The PS projects that the revenue will hit KSh 1 billion daily as the number of users rises.

President William Ruto has been keen to ensure that over 80% of government services are digitised.

4. The Star

The government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) approved a return-to-work formula that increases the monthly salary of the top-paid doctor to KSh 1.4 million.

Before this, the highest-paid physicians at Kenyatta National National Hospital were paid about KSh 1 million.

An entry-level medic, who makes the least money at the referral hospital, will now receive KSh 413,785 instead of KSh 289,186 received before the strike.

The national government pledged to clear KSh 3.5 billion arrears, which have been pending since 2017. However, the issue of interns' pay remained unresolved.

According to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration, the new fiscal year will mark the start of the new pay.

5. Taifa Leo

Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised concerns over the high costs paid by boda boda operators to acquire motorbikes on loans.

The MPs were told that the costs would rise as high as KSh 575,000 per bike, yet buyers were not provided with valid ownership documents.

"A person pays up to KSh 204,000 and is given one key without any documents to show the motorcycle belongs to them," a victim revealed.

Among the companies that were exposed were MOGO and Watu Credit Ltd.

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