The Office of the Deputy President on Friday, May 15 defended its KSh3.676 billion budget allocation in the Financial Year 2026/27.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Administration and Internal Security Committee, Moses N. Mbaruku, the Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the Deputy President said that the budget comprises of KSh3.576 billion for recurrent expenditure, and KSh100 million for development expenditure.

Mbaruku told the Gabriel Tongoyo-led committee that even the allocated budget is not enough, with the office’s original resource requirement amounting to KSh4.548 billion, and therefore left with a budget deficit of KSh871.9 million.

According to Mbaruku, the Office of the Deputy President undertakes three broad sub-programmes in its budget namely;

1. General Administration Planning and Support services – which will be allocated KSh1.069 billion yet it needed 1.0222 billion as per the Budget Police Statement (BPS), and therefore a deviation of 95.4 million.
2. Coordination and Supervisory Services’ budget was amended upwards- it has been allocated 2.532 billion in the budget estimates, yet it had been allocated 2.484 billion in the BPS.
3. Government Strategic Priorities and Interventions budget has remained 74.4 million both in the budget estimates and in the BPS.

KSh8 million chopper ride?

While justifying the budget, Mbaruku told the Committee that the Office of the Deputy President has utilised its allocated resources effectively in the execution of its mandate.

He dismissed allegations that the office used KSh8 million in choppers for a single day, insisting that the office used the chopper for several trips across 10 days, which amounted to the aforementioned amount of money.

He also highlighted some key achievements for the period under review (2025/26 Financial Year);

1. Convened High Level Inter-Ministerial engagements chaired by H.E The Deputy President to accelerate gains in the attainment of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda(BETA) commitments. These engagements have yielded tangible results including the enhanced disbursement of the NYOTA programme funds, Fast-tracked the implementation of Infrastructural Development Projects i.e. markets, roads, affordable housing projects and Rural Electrification Projects across the country, creation of job opportunities through the labour mobility initiatives. Other interventions include reduction of energy costs in the manufacturing sector;
2. H.E the Deputy President has chaired seven (7) cabinet committees revolving on two sectors namely Governance, Social Sector and Public Administration; and Finance, Infrastructure, Land and Production. The Committees deliberate on Cabinet directives and provide strategic advisory to steer government effort ensuring a whole-of- government approach to timely delivery of its commitments;
3. Convened two (2) Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) Fora to deliberate on cross-cuting programmes and projects including Universal Health Coverage, County Aggregated Industrial Parks, Affordable Housing among others as well as fiscal matters affecting County Governments. Additionally, fifteen (15) technical engagements have been held to fast-track the implementation of agreed IBEC resolutions which include productivity of the Public Sector, harmonization of fees and levies by County Governments, automation of County Own Source Revenue, and affordable housing;
4. Convened two (2) High-level Policy Dialogue with Development Partners to strengthen the effectiveness of development partnerships. The fora accorded an opportunity to focus efforts on streamlining pertinent issues affecting absorption of Official Development Assistance (ODA), Climate Change Action, Development Partnership Administrative Frameworks i.e. Joint Sector Working Groups;
5. Coordinated the review of the National Honours Act (Cap.216A) and the onward forwarding of the Draft Kenya Honours Bill to the office of the Attorney General. The review of the Act will enhance transparency, inclusivity and accountability in the conferment of National Honours in Kenya and address concerns on procedural opacity, weak criteria, over-centralization and absence of revocation mechanisms;
6. Reviewed and vetted 881 Nominees for consideration of National Honours and Awards and also developed the Recommendation Report for onward submission to H.E the President; and
7. Facilitated H.E the Deputy President local and international official engagements.

He concluded by highlighting that the KSh100 million allocated to development budget for the financial year 2026/27 will be utilised as follows; Harambee Annex – KSh30 million, official residence of the Deputy President in Karen – KSh50 million, and Deputy President’s residence in Mombasa – KSh20 million.