Rigathi Gachagua accuses Ruto's government of planning to loot Sh6.2 billion through State House, NIS and security votes in new budget.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of leading a "looting spree" through a freshly tabled Supplementary Budget for the 2025/26 financial year.
The top critic of the Ruto-led administration claimed the government is planning to loot Sh6.2 billion through the budget, alleging the money is being siphoned through State House, the Office of the Deputy President, the State Department of Internal Security, and the National Intelligence Service.
"The money to be drawn in cash through votes disguised as maintenance and operations, other operating expenses and security operations," he wrote online.
"This is money for bribing voters, paying goons, buying MPs and Senators, counter-productive empowerment programs and the Ol Kalou by-election," Gachagua added.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader also faulted the administration for planning to empty public coffers at a time when Kenyans are reeling from a lack of basic services in cash-strapped critical sectors.
"This is happening when hospitals have no drugs, cancer patients are deep in pain, our students have no capitation, university and college students have no funding, name it!" he said.
What the Supplementary Budget Proposes
In Supplementary Budget II, spending is expected to rise by Sh17.29 billion, pushing total expenditure to Sh4.6 trillion for the 2025/26 financial year. The National Treasury proposes an increment of Sh8.1 billion in recurrent expenditure.
The Sports Department is set to receive the highest amount at Sh4.1 billion, pushing its final allocation to Sh29.26 billion. MSMEs will receive an additional Sh3.8 billion, raising their budget to Sh12 billion, while NIS will get an extra Sh3.5 billion, bringing its total to Sh64.9 billion.
State House is earmarked for an additional Sh1 billion, raising its allocation to Sh18.54 billion, while the Office of the Deputy President will receive Sh200 million, pushing its expenditure to Sh5.3 billion. Education's budget will rise to Sh132.6 billion after receiving an additional Sh1.5 billion.
Mounting Pressure Over Spending
The development comes amid growing pressure on the government to cut public spending, as Kenyans grapple with a high cost of living and the prospect of increased taxes to fund the 2026/27 financial year.