Ruto vows to personally cross-check budget to weed out corrupt state officials

President William Ruto says that he will dedicate time to sit down with Treasury officials to cross-check the proposed 2024/25 Budget to curb corruption.

Speaking at the launch of the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) that covers the period of 2023 to 2027 at State House on Thursday, Ruto warned that he would not relent in his pursuit to make Kenya a corrupt free state as he seeks to recover the economy.

Corrupt officials, he stated, were accustomed to inflating the budget to benefit themselves rather than the local citizens who were paying taxes to fund government projects.

“What we witness every time in some instances, is that corruption is budgeted into our budget cycle. People budget things that they know will not go to the people of Kenya. I am very clear in my mind that we have what it takes to take Kenya to the next level. We have the requisite resources if properly applied and properly used with integrity to move our country to the next level,” Ruto stated.

“I will be spending time tomorrow with the Treasury to ensure that with a toothcomb, we eliminate anything that will not benefit the people of Kenya. Our budget is going to be an instrument for the delivery of our plan to provide inclusive growth,” he added.

Treasury estimated Kenya’s 2024/25 budget to total Sh4.2 trillion, which is Sh600 billion more than the 2023/24 budget which stood at Sh3.6 trillion.

Incentives

Ruto also alleged that activists opposing his projects, especially the Affordable Housing Programme, sought incentives from the state to withdraw the cases after receiving stay orders and injunctions.

“They have the audacity to look for government officials and tell them if you talk to us nicely, we are going to remove the injunction. I mean, what level of impunity is that?" he posed.

“And that is why, it is our commitment that we need to enhance the office of the Attorney General (AG), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Authority (EAC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure that we have the requisite capacities to protect the resources and of the people of Kenya.”

Participants at the launch of the 4th Medium Term Plan (2023-2027), State House Nairobi on March 21, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

Within his plan is the recruitment of additional police, prison and National Government Authority (NGAO) officers to enhance the law and justice sector.

To recover the economy, he also promised to focus on employment creation through investment in Special Economic Zones and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks; diversification of export markets and market access of MSMEs goods and services and attracting investors to Nairobi.

"Emphasis will be given to the promotion of agro-processing and the strengthening of extension services, provision of quality and affordable farm inputs, cooperative development and management, market access and logistics support, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, adoption of climate-smart agriculture, enhanced agricultural financing, and agricultural mechanization research and development," said Ruto.

"Our economy continues to grapple with fundamental challenges, including widening inequality, low productivity, and susceptibility to economic shocks. These challenges demand urgent and resolute interventions to regain lost ground and align ourselves with our aspirations."

He further pledged to hire over 20,000 health workers to improve the sector and 56,000 primary and secondary school teachers to improve the national teacher-pupil ratio and enhance education outcomes.

The head of state also promised to scale up the Financial Inclusion Fund - the Hustler Fund to increase access to affordable credit for those at the bottom of the pyramid and undertake reforms to create a favourable tax regime, deepen capital markets and improve the lending and investment environment.