A Sh55 billion supplementary budget that includes funds used by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in its last days is being sought by Treasury from MPs.
Ministries, state departments, and other organisations have already spent Sh23 billion of the total Sh55 billion.
A further Sh16.6 billion was spent on fuel price subsidies, Sh11.4 billion on road development projects, Sh8.2 billion on financial aid for CBC, and Sh6.1 billion on financial aid for Telkom Kenya.
In addition, the Uhuru government spent Sh4.5 billion on the unga subsidy, Sh3.5 billion on the research hospital for the Defense, and Sh3.8 billion on the presidential office.
According to Article 223 of the Constitution, which authorises such expenses, MPs must accept the supplemental estimates.
The statute permits Treasury to spend up to 10% of a certain MDA’s budget item and then request permission.
However, MPs and budget experts say they are concerned about the extra spending which they argue distorts the fiscal framework spelt in the Budget Policy Statement.
Just four months ago, the National Treasury asked the National Assembly to approve an additional Sh64 billion, of which a huge part was used to stabilise fuel prices.
This saw the budget for the financial year 2021-22 increase by Sh204 billion overall.
The request was made barely two months after MPs approved another supplementary budget.
