- State House local travel budget now at Ksh 2.1B, up from Ksh 933M
- Operating costs and unclassified expenses shoot up to over Ksh 3.1B
- State House salaries rise to Ksh 1.21B; hospitality budget crosses Ksh 1B
- Departments for Mining, ICT, and Water among top gainers
- Education, Health, and Roads are among those facing budget cuts
The National Treasury has released new figures under the third supplementary budget that now show State House Nairobi as one of the biggest winners, with travel, hospitality, and staff salaries taking a huge chunk of the new allocations.
According to the breakdown, the budget for local travel and transport for the State House has more than doubled from Ksh 933.1 million to Ksh 2.1 billion, raising eyebrows across the political divide.
Even more notable is the jump in unclassified operational costs, which have surged from Ksh 1.36 billion to Ksh 3.1 billion — a move the Treasury claims will address shortfalls in recurrent spending.
In a formal note to Parliament, Treasury said the new allocation is aimed at meeting the “expenses of State House and State Lodges, including salaries, pensions for retired presidents and vice presidents, as well as the Presidential Communication Service and policy research.”
Inside the State House Spending Breakdown
The salary bill for permanent State House staff now stands at Ksh 1.21 billion, a rise from the previous Ksh 1.1 billion allocation.
Meanwhile, hospitality services like catering, guest hosting, and events are now taking in over Ksh 1.05 billion, up from Ksh 663.8 million. Also, vehicle maintenance for the presidential fleet will now cost Ksh 497.5 million, nearly double the previous Ksh 262.5 million.
Interestingly, the only drop in this category is a Ksh 81.4 million cut in pension benefits for retired top officials.
Beyond the State House, several departments also received top-ups. The Ministry of Mining saw its budget grow by Ksh 312.3 million, thanks to surrendered funds from wages and extra revenue.
The ICT and Digital Economy Department got Ksh 2.19 billion more, an 18% rise, attributed to capital investment. The Water and Sanitation Department will now receive an additional Ksh 3.45 billion, boosted by support from development partners.
Tough Times for Basic Education and Health
While some offices are smiling, others are not so lucky. Among the biggest losers in this new budget are: The State Department for Basic Education Ministry of Roads and Transport Medical Services Department Department of Economic Planning
Despite the cuts, other institutions like the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Higher Education, Internal Security, and National Intelligence Service (NIS) got a slice of the new allocations.
This latest proposal increases the overall 2024/2025 national budget by Ksh 18.9 billion, intensifying ongoing debates about public spending, priorities, and fiscal responsibility as Kenyans continue to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders.
