DP Kindiki’s office seeks Sh625m budget boost for travel, hospitality and residence upgrades
The Deputy President’s office had been allocated Sh2.9 billion for the financial year, down from the Sh3.4 billion proposed in the Budget Policy Statement.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s office has requested an additional Sh625.4 million to enhance its operations and renovate key official residences.
The funds include Sh100 million specifically earmarked for upgrades to Harambee House Annexe and the official DP’s residence in Karen.
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The request was presented to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, with officials warning that inadequate funding for hospitality and travel could hinder the office’s ability to function effectively.
Principal Administrative Secretary Moses Mbaruku told MPs that the office requires more funds to manage its expanded responsibilities, which include steering inter-ministerial coordination and fast-tracking priority programmes under the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“The office plays a key role in spearheading various strategic interventions, fast-tracking the implementation of government policies, programmes and projects across the country,” reads the documents presented to the committee.
“It is upon this premise that the office is requesting not only the reinstatement of the rationalised budget but also additional allocation to ensure H.E. the Deputy President is adequately facilitated to deliver on his mandate.”
The Deputy President’s office had been allocated Sh2.9 billion for the financial year, down from the Sh3.4 billion proposed in the Budget Policy Statement. The new request includes Sh114.9 million for domestic travel, Sh86.3 million for foreign travel and Sh170.8 million for hospitality.
Meanwhile, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services is seeking Sh20 billion to support a wide range of activities, including the printing of new identity cards and the rollout of the Maisha Namba digital identification programme.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang told the committee that demand for ID cards has surged following a nationwide campaign to register eligible Kenyans.
“The massive campaign by the government to encourage registration of the public eligible for ID cards has increased in demand,” Kipsang said.
The development comes after President William Ruto directed that all Kenyans aged 18 and above be issued ID cards free of charge. The directive reversed an earlier increase in application fees from Sh100 to Sh300. It also scrapped vetting for applicants from northern Kenya that had been in place for over 60 years.
In addition to funding for ID cards and Maisha Namba, the Immigration Department said it requires more resources to facilitate the repatriation of illegal immigrants, implement electronic travel authorisation systems, acquire specialised equipment and expand mobile registration services across the country.
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