Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the government’s decision to increase funding for the Presidency, saying the allocation is needed to restore State House after years of neglect left parts of the building in poor condition.
His remarks come as the government’s spending priorities continue to face scrutiny, with critics questioning the rise in funding for the Presidency at a time when many Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday, Mbadi argued that much of the public debate had focused narrowly on State House without considering the wider responsibilities that fall under the Presidency.
“The truth of the matter is that if you saw the State House that we have been having, it had been left to rot. That’s the seat of power,” Mbadi said.
He described the condition of the building as unacceptable, saying sections of the residence were leaking despite its role as the official venue for receiving visiting presidents, diplomats and other international guests.
“Even if you look at the White House, they always maintain it. It looks beautiful,” he said. “Our State House should not be left in a deplorable state where it is leaking. That’s a shame. That is where you host international dignitaries. The first impression they have of Kenya is that the people there are very disorganized. How do you expect them to do business?”
Mbadi also stressed that the Presidency’s budget extends beyond State House itself. It includes the maintenance of State Lodges and supports a range of administrative and official functions carried out by the Office of the President.
The Treasury chief also addressed concerns over the government’s borrowing plans under the Sh4.8 trillion budget. Economists have often cautioned that heavy domestic borrowing can reduce the amount of credit available to businesses by increasing competition for funds.
Mbadi acknowledged that risk but said the Treasury believed the local financial market could support the planned borrowing without significantly affecting private sector lending.
“If the government is not careful and borrows more from the domestic market, chances are that it can easily crowd out the private sector,” he said.
He added that Treasury had assessed market conditions before settling on its financing strategy.
“We have done our analysis and assessment of our economy. We have a very liquid domestic market,” Mbadi said, while adding that this should not be interpreted as a licence for excessive borrowing.
The Cabinet Secretary also rejected the opposition’s criticism of the budget, saying its alternative proposals merely shifted spending from one area to another without offering a fully developed fiscal plan.
“They simply picked my figures, removed here and there, and added here and there. That is not really a budget,” he said. “A budget is something you sit and think through, do simulations and come up with alternative views.”
The debate over the Presidency’s spending is expected to continue as Parliament and the public examine government priorities, balancing calls for fiscal restraint against the state’s responsibility to maintain key national institutions.
About the Author
