Controller Of Budget Says Govt Wanted KSh 1b To Spend On Madaraka Day Security

• Margaret Nyakang’o revealed that the State Department of Internal Security initially requested KSh 1 billion for security operations
• Nyakang’o explained that after discussions with the National Treasury, she reduced the requested amount to KSh 300 million
• The CoB emphasised that while some expenses might have been unforeseen, the requested KSh 1 billion was excessive and required a more reasonable budget allocation

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

The Controller of Budget (CoB) has revealed that the State Department of Internal Security requested KSh 1 billion for security measures during the Madaraka Day celebrations in 2024.

The money was requested to cover bills for multi-agency security operations for the Madaraka Day celebrations and local presidential functions.

How much was approved for Madaraka Day security?

Speaking during a morning interview on K24, Margaret Nyakang’o, the CoB, revealed that after engagements with the Treasury, she reduced the money to KSh 300 million.

She noted that this request implied unforeseen costs, and she was not convinced that the amount requested was necessary.

"When that request came, I engaged with the Treasury and told them I was not convinced that it was unforeseen to that extent, and so the figure was reduced", Nyakang’o emphasised.

How much would Madaraka Day cost?

When asked if Madaraka Day expenses added up to a billion Kenya shillings, the CoB explained that it depended on the estimates prepared.

"It depends on the estimates that were prepared. But I engaged with the National Treasury and made them see the point that it could not have been unforeseen to that extent. But probably there were a few things that may have been unforeseen, so we agreed to fund them at a lower level," the CoB said.

Bungoma spends KSh 25 million on Madaraka Day flowers

The revelations by the CoB come after an earlier report by TUKO.co.ke that the county government of Bungoma spent KSh 25 million on flowers.

Bungoma County came under scrutiny after revelations that it spent KSh 148.8 million preparing for the Madaraka Day celebrations.

Youths in Bungoma County petitioned Governor Kenneth Lusaka for transparency regarding the expenditure, particularly questioning the KSh 25 million spent on flowers.

Governor Lusaka addressed the media, stating that the expenses were approved by the county assembly and used for various sectors, including education, infrastructure, and public works.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke