President William Ruto has announced new austerity measures that will affect crucial state departments including his office.
Ruto said following his decision to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill, 2024, passed by MPs Tuesday, there was a need to find ways of managing the affairs by reducing expenditure.
“There is a need for us as a nation to pick up from here and go into the future and because we have gotten rid of the Finance bill, it is necessary for us a nation going forward to have a conversation on how to manage the affairs of the country together, our debt situation and the deficit that exist,” he said.
Some of the proposals he made included a reduction of operational expenditure in the entire presidency.
According to the head of state, the confidential vote will now be removed while travel, hospitality, purchase of motor vehicles and renovations expenses will now be removed.
He also directed Parliament, Judiciary and counties to work with the Treasury and undertake the budget cuts and austerity to ensure “We live within our means respecting the loud message that is coming from the people of Kenya”.
He further proposed that within the next 14 days, a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder engagement be held to chart the way forward on matters relating to the content of the bill.
This, he added, will also include the auxiliary issues raised in recent days on the need for austerity measures and strengthening our fight against corruption.
He was addressing the press from Statehouse, Nairobi.
A section of elected MPs and Senators from the Kenya Kwanza camp were present.
By Star