Public Officers Spent Ksh 3.5B in 2019, Report Shows

Despite a freeze on foreign travel, public officers blew Sh 3.5 billion  on travelling, both local and abroad, making it the third biggest recurrent expenditure item at the national government after salaries in the year 2019.

Treasury’s Acting Cabinet Secretary,  Ukur Yatani, had late last year proposed austerity measures to ensure that the government absorbs much funds into development projects. This plan has terribly failed with funds been used unnecessary at both levels of government.

The treasury started the year 2019 with an opening balance of KSH 98.9 billion while non-tax income added up to 13 billion.

The latest report by the controller of budget office illustrates that despite spending 571 billion in the first three months of this financial year, only 48 billion went to development expenditure, meaning that for every 100 shillings spent between July and September 2019 only 10 shillings was absorbed into development expenditure, translating to about 11% and is a far cry from the recommended 30% target.

The proposed measures had an intention to free up more resources to development projects and spare taxpayers the burden of having to use 90% if all its tax revenues to pay civil servants, buy office equipment, fuel cars and fund trips.