Questions raised over Sh55billion spent by Uhuru’s government
Members of Parliament (MPs) raised questions about the Sh55 billion that was used during the last days of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government without their approval.
During the five-day retreat, the lawmakers were presented with data from the National Treasury which showed that the government used billions to provide subsidies for fuel and maize flour among other things.
The only amount the MPs claimed to approve was Sh3.3 trillion in June this year for the 2022/2023 financial year.
“We are now in September two months into the 2022/2023 financial year, and already we have spent Sh54.6 billion. Soon, you will see the Executive asking us to approve this money,” a document from the Members of the Parliamentary Budget Office showed.
“This money was never budgeted for in the 2022/2023 financial year. The net effect is that programs for this period will not be achieved,” it added.
Out of the Sh55 billion, Sh16.6 billion was spent by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining on fuel subsidy while Sh4.5 billion was disbursed to the State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research for the maize flour subsidy.
The flour subsidy came immediately after Uhuru opened the fifth package on food subsidies to shield Kenyans against the 2kg packet of maize flour that retailed at Sh100.
His government also subsidised fuel prices amounting to Sh118 billion which saw diesel retail at Sh140, petrol at Sh159.12 and kerosene at Sh127.94.
However, President William Ruto announced during his inauguration that he will do away with all subsidies in the new government.
