Following violent protests around the nation in response to a budget law intended to raise taxes, Kenyan President William Ruto has outlined steps to reduce government expenditure.Read More
Ruto added that after considering the discussion surrounding the text of the law, he decided not to ratify it.
For the first time in Kenyan history, protesters broke into the national parliament, resulting in the deaths of over 23 individuals.
At a Friday X-Space meeting with Kenyans, Ruto claimed that the bill was tainted with “propaganda and falsehood.”
According to the president, the law included initiatives that would have protected Kenyan industry and produced additional jobs.
According to the presidency, the bill’s goals were to lessen Kenya’s dependency on borrowing and fix the country’s spiraling budget deficit.
Currently, Kenya’s public debt is 68 percent of GDP, much more than the 55 percent that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advise.
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Ruto stated that following extensive deliberations, his government has decided to reduce a number of governance expenses.
In a different speech, the president of the State House in Nairobi announced the resolutions.
The first and second lady’s offices’ budgets were eliminated as part of the downsizing.
Promotion
“The budget for renovations across the government shall be slashed by fifty percent, and the budgetary provisions for confidential budgets in various executive offices, including my office,” he continued.
Additionally, Ruto disbanded 47 state corporations that performed redundant tasks, “thereby eliminating their costs for upkeep and operation.”
He stated, “Their responsibilities will be incorporated into the corresponding line ministries.”
“Missions and other state agencies will receive the affected corporations’ current workforce.”
Promotion
Additional steps include immediately stopping the appointment of chief administrative secretaries and reducing the number of government advisers by at least half.
The president stated that civil servants who reach the age of 60 must retire right away and that there will be no exceptions.
Promotion
Along with the suspension of state officers’ non-essential travel, Ruto also ordered a one-year ban on new car purchases within the government, with the exception of security agencies.
He stated that a new transportation strategy for public servants would be created.
Promotion
Ruto directed the attorney general to create a system for organized and transparent donations for public, nonprofit, and philanthropic uses, as well as to draft and submit laws to that effect.
After Kenyan rioting, Ruto eliminates the first lady’s office budget and reduces government spending.
