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Kindiki Office Spends Sh1.3B of Sh3.04B Annual Budget in 3 Months

Kindiki’s office spends Sh1.3B in 3 months out of its Sh3.04 billion annual budget, an eyebrow-raising splurge that’s got fiscal watchdogs barking and taxpayers scratching heads, as fresh Treasury figures reveal the Deputy President’s inner sanctum has torched nearly half its yearly recurrent kitty in a mere quarter – a pace that could leave the coffers bone-dry by March 2026 if unchecked.

The Office of the Deputy President, helmed by Kithure Kindiki since his August 2024 swearing-in, clocked Sh1.34 billion in outlays by September’s end, per the Controller of Budget’s latest bulletin, gobbling 44% of its Sh3.04 billion annual envelope meant to cover salaries, travel, and ops through June 2026.

This isn’t loose change; it’s a ledger line that screams scrutiny in a republic reeling from Ruto’s “bottom-up” belt-tightening. Kindiki’s shop, a leaner beast than Rigathi’s old gig with its Sh4.2 billion tab, funnelled the bulk into “other goods and services” – think jet-setting jaunts, plush advisor perks, and protocol pomp that rivals a state banquet.

“At this clip, they’ll hit the wall by Q1’s close, begging Parliament for a bailout amid election whispers,” quipped economist from Strathmore University, his calculator still smoking over the math.

The Treasury’s nod to recurrent overruns – already Sh135 billion over budget nationwide by June – paints a picture of fiscal frolic where austerity’s just a slogan for the hustlers outside State Lodge.

Kindiki, the Tharaka Nithi don turned security czar, stepped into the breach post-Gachagua’s impeachment drama, vowing a “streamlined” outfit.

Yet the numbers tell a tale of transition turbulence: Sh500 million vanished on domestic travel alone, shuttling the DP from Meru marathons to Mombasa meet-and-greets, while Sh300 million greased “communication and publicity” – glossy ads and media blitzes that critics dub “vanity projects”.

Insiders whisper of a hiring spree, bulking up with 150 new staffers on fat allowances, echoing the opulence that sank Rigathi’s ship. “It’s not malice; it’s momentum – settling into the role means front-loading expenditures,” defended a Harambee Annex source, off-record amid the post-Raila pall.

The ripple? A stark reminder of Kenya’s spendthrift streak, where recurrent gobbling – 70% of the Sh4.2 trillion 2025/26 pie – starves devolution dreams and leaves counties scraping for tarmac funds.

Opposition firebrands like Omtatah are licking their chops: “This is exhibit A for our graft probe; Kindiki’s honeymoon’s over,” he tweeted.

Public reaction’s a mixed brew – Mt Kenya faithful hail it as “investing in stability”, while Gen Z TikTokers roast it with memes of Kindiki as a matatu tout overspending on fuel.

The Controller’s report, dropped yesterday, flags no red flags yet but urges “prudent pacing” lest supplementary bids clog the pipeline come spring.

As October’s tax deadlines loom, this Kindiki cash dash spotlights the tightrope: empower the second-in-command without emptying the exchequer.

With 2027’s ballot shadows lengthening and inflation nipping at 6.5%, will the DP’s ledger learn restraint or lead to another ledger-lashing? For now, the Treasury’s watchful eye stays peeled – in Kenya’s money maze, every shilling spent is a story untold.

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