Ruto, Kindiki offices spent Ksh.298M on fuel in six months

State House led the charge with Ksh202.96 million—ranking as the second-largest fuel consumer among all government bodies, trailing only the National Police Service at Ksh377.65 million. The Office of the Deputy President, headed by Prof. Kithure Kindiki, accounted for Ksh68.77 million, while the Office of the President added another Ksh26.85 million to the tally. These figures emerge despite President William Ruto's repeated calls for fiscal restraint and reduced government expenditure to ease the burden on taxpayers.

Since Ruto took office in September 2022, State House has cumulatively burned through Ksh1.092 billion on fuel alone, with annual costs climbing from Ksh407.92 million in 2023/24 to Ksh481.39 million in 2024/25. The report attributes much of the high consumption to extensive domestic travel by leaders and their large entourages, including security details, staff, and operational needs. Kindiki's frequent nationwide tours for empowerment initiatives, political rallies, and party activities under UDA have particularly driven up mileage and associated costs. Broader recurrent spending across ministries has also accelerated, with half of the annual allocation already used in just six months—far outpacing the previous year's pace.

The disclosures have sparked renewed debate over spending priorities at a time when ordinary Kenyans grapple with rising living costs, heavy taxation, and economic strain. Critics question how these lavish operational expenses align with the administration's austerity rhetoric, especially as State House's overall budget has ballooned and more funds are being sought for the coming year. With the 2027 elections drawing closer, observers anticipate even greater travel demands for mobilization and campaigning, potentially pushing fuel and related costs higher and intensifying scrutiny on executive resource use.