Editor's Review

The DP's office asserted that facts were captured in the Hansard document which is a public document.

The Office of the Deputy President has issued a clarification after reports that Members of Parliament questioned a proposed allocation of Ksh2.6 billion to the office in the 2024/2025 budget estimates. 

The reports indicated that the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security had issues with Ksh460 million which had been proposed in the budget for the renovation of the DP's office at Harambee House Annex and another Ksh660 million for the renovation of his Karen official residence.

However, in a press statement on Thursday, May 16, by the Head of Deputy Presidential Communication Service, Njeri Rugene, the DP's office disclosed that the figures in the widely spread reports were incorrect.

Rugene disclosed that the correct figures based on what DP's office had requested was Ksh300 million.

"Our attention is drawn to media reports on the presentation of the 2024/25 FY Budget Estimates and the 2023/24 Supplementary II Estimates as presented to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security by the Office of the Deputy President. 

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"The facts are office renovations; a request for Kshs. 300 Million for the renovation of the Harambee House Annex Office, Official Residence in Karen, and the Official Residence in Mombasa," read part of the statement.

The Head of the Deputy Presidential Communication Service supported the request intimating that the Harambee House Annex Office and Mombasa Residence had been neglected for the last 15 years affecting critical areas of habitability, safety, and security. 

DP Rigathi Gachagua in an event.

Rugene also clarified that the budgetary estimates for motor vehicles in the next financial year for the DP's office was Ksh100 Million. 

The proposed allocation for the same which lawmakers had questioned was Ksh200 million.

The DP's office defended the Ksh100 million for motor vehicles maintaining that for the last 10 years the Office of The Deputy President has heavily relied on old, and refurbished vehicles which are costly to maintain, compromising service delivery. 

The DPCS head asserted that facts were captured in the Hansard document which is a public document.

"The misrepresentation of facts and figures negates objectivity. The facts are captured in the Hansard, which is a public document," Rugene remarked.