Wamuzi News Ke
In a startling revelation, the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has exposed that Kenyan government agencies spent an astonishing KSh 6.3 billion on hospitality—primarily tea and mandazi—during the fiscal year ending 30 June 2025.
This amounts to a staggering KSh 17.2 million spent every day on refreshments alone.
Austerity Pledges Clash with Daily Indulgence.
These figures come at a time when President William Ruto has repeatedly spoken of strict fiscal discipline and the need for austerity amid mounting economic pressures since the COVID-19 era. Yet, the continued lavish hospitality spending highlights a dramatic disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
State House at the Center of Excess.
State House tops the list of hospitality spenders with KSh 1.15 billion—averaging KSh 3 million per day—trailing not far behind are the Judiciary at KSh 514.65 million (about KSh 1.5 million daily) and the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration at KSh 490.98 million (approximately KSh 1.3 million per day).
Travel Expenditure Soars Despite Directives.
In addition to culinary extravagance, travel costs ballooned—especially in domestic travel. State House and the Executive Office of the President accounted for a combined total of KSh 2.5 billion in domestic trips, marking an unprecedented high for the period.While State House cut back on foreign travel by about KSh 109 million (bringing its total to KSh 189 million), the Office of the President paradoxically increased foreign travel by KSh 20 million compared to the previous year.
Deputy President’s Office Cuts Back.
In contrast, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s office significantly reduced both local and international travel expenses, with domestic travel dropping from KSh 441 million to KSh 228 million, and foreign travel plunging from KSh 114.9 million to KSh 22 million. This trimmed the hospitality budget nearly in half—from KSh 746 million to KSh 379 million.
Mixed Fiscal Outcomes Across the Board.
Other spending patterns offer a mixed picture: while salaries (excluding allowances) surged by KSh 47 billion—rising from KSh 597 billion to KSh 645.5 billion—foreign travel costs declined by KSh 1.7 billion, and domestic travel dipped by KSh 100 million.
The National Assembly incurred the highest domestic travel costs at KSh 4.68 billion, while the State Department for Foreign Affairs led foreign travel spending at KSh 2.52 billion.
Demand for Real Reform.
Nyakang’o’s report underscores a broader concern over fragmented fiscal discipline: directives limiting non-essential spending, including foreign benchmarking and travel, appear to have been widely ignored. She urged the government to accelerate fiscal consolidation—cutting waste, settling pending bills totaling KSh 530 billion, and bolstering revenue through improved tax collection and anti-corruption measures.
Public Trust at Stake.
This disclosure arrives amid growing public disillusionment. Citizens, particularly youth activists involved in recent protests, have voiced frustration over glaring discrepancies between official austerity claims and actual spending. The government’s backtracking on tax proposals and cost-cutting promises has only intensified skepticism about its commitment to transparency.
