The opposing coalition raised fault in the allocation of Ksh 26 billion by the Treasury in the name of development.
Azimio la Umoja on Friday, June 14 flagged three allocations from the Ksh4 trillion 2024/25 budget, terming them exorbitant.
In a statement read by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the opposing coalition raised fault in the allocation of Ksh 26 billion by the Treasury in the name of development.
Other allocations deemed misplaced were that of Ksh2.6 billion by the State Department for Devolution on development expenditure and Ksh72 billion by the State Department of Housing.
Wiper Party Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka speaking alongside other Azimio leaders during a press briefing on April 9, 2024. /KALONZO MUSYOKA
“We highlight the following misplaced allocations: one, the National Treasury has Ksh 26B more in the name of development; two, the State Department for Devolution has an increase of Ksh 2.6B in development expenditure; three, the State Department of Housing has been allocated an additional Ksh 72B which is higher than that of 10 counties combined,” Kalonzo said, flanked by other Azimio la Umoja co-principals.
At the same time, Kalonzo predicted that the government was intent on looting an estimated Ksh1 trillion from dubious sections within the budget.
“It is a contention that despite the budget estimates 2024/25, flowery language and complicated figures, it simply does not stimulate economic activity, it does the opposite and seeks to tax every Kenyan Ksh24,000 more such as Housing tax and a very lean payslip,” Kalonzo stated.
“This is a reckless race to the bottom. This is a Ksh23.6 billion increase in recurrent expenditure. This is a budgeted corruption in the name of tea, mandazi and flowers. It is their turn to eat, so they believe.”
The opposition was responding to a budget proposal read by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung’u on the floor of the National Assembly.
The budget proposal ceiling of Ksh4 trillion, a first-of-its-kind, proposed different amounts to run the republic and steer it to economic recovery.
Ndung’u proposed the education sector be allocated Ksh656.6 billion or 27.6 percent of total government expenditure.
The CS also proposed an allocation of a plum Ksh127 billion to the health sector, one of the critical sectors in the whole of Kenya. This includes Ksh4.2 billion for the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Further, he proposed an allocation of Ksh377 billion to National Security, stating “These allocations are to the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces and the National Intelligence Service.”
CS Ndungu also proposed an allocation of Ksh54.6 billion to the agriculture sector to enhance transformation, an allocation that included Ksh10 billion for the fertilizer subsidy program.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u and Ndindi Nyoro at Parliament Buildings on Thursday, June 13, 2024. /NATIONAL TREASURY
