Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-02-20 21:09:12
A report released by the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has brought to light the fact that State House requested a staggering Ksh700 million for the construction of a modern presidential dais in October 2023. This significant sum of money was requested under the premise of an emergency project, with State House citing Article 233 of the Constitution as the basis for their application. They argued that the law allows them to seek funds outside of their budget for urgent projects.
State House defended their request by explaining that the dais, which was to be constructed at the State House gardens, would serve as a venue for hosting visiting presidents and special meetings. However, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o declined to authorize the allocation, despite it receiving initial approval from the Treasury. Despite this setback, State House proceeded with the project, funding it from its original budget after the CoB put a halt to its request.
The report also highlighted that Ksh600 million from the State House’s budget was allocated to the construction of a non-residential building, while an additional Ksh152 million was used for the refurbishment of buildings and other infrastructure. The report pointed out that the State Department for State House recorded the highest absorption of the development budget at 58.4 per cent, while the State Department for Foreign Affairs recorded the lowest at 2.0 per cent. This was attributed to enhanced operation and maintenance expenses, refurbishment of buildings, and other civil works.
The necessity of State House’s plan to build the dais was linked to the planned renovation of Ruto’s official residence, which is yet to be completed. In the past, visiting presidents held joint press briefings alongside President William Ruto at the State House entrance before proceeding to hold bilateral talks inside. This made the construction of the presidential dais a priority, especially since it is also connected to a back office that Ruto has been using during the ongoing renovations.
Ruto has already utilized his new office to host Polish President Andrzej Duda and other visitors. The architectural design of his new office deviates from the traditional State House design. Additionally, President William Ruto has chaired a Cabinet meeting at the new Presidential dais at State House on January 15, 2024, highlighting the relevance and use of this new construction.
Overall, the report sheds light on the internal workings and budget allocations of State House, providing insight into the decision-making processes and financial management within this important governmental institution.
Read the original article on Kenyans.co.ke
