“Ksh 48.3 Million Daily?”- State House Spending Sparks Fresh Budget Fears

Fresh figures from Kenya’s National Treasury have triggered concern in government circles. They show that State House has been using money at an unusually fast rate in the current financial year. The President’s office is now one of the biggest spenders in a very short time.

Between July 2025 and the end of January 2026, State House had already used all of its approved recurrent budget. The office was given KSh7.7 billion for the entire year. That money ran out in just seven months. An extra KSh2.7 billion was then spent on top of that, pushing total spending to about KSh10.4 billion. And the financial year still has months to go.

When broken down, the spending equals more than KSh48 million every day. That is a heavy bill for daily operations. It means the office of President William Ruto is now running beyond its original financial plan. Experts say this rate of use is far above what is normally seen.

Treasury officials say this money supports routine government activity. It pays for travel. It covers meetings and official events. It also goes into fuel, security, repairs, and staff allowances. These are the basic costs of keeping the presidency and its offices working smoothly.

January was especially expensive. In that single month, more than KSh1.3 billion was used. That level of spending is usually seen during busy political seasons. These include national tours, regional visits, and international meetings. But analysts say even by those standards, the numbers are high.

Budget watchers warn that this trend could create problems later in the year. With five months still remaining, State House will need more money. That could mean moving funds from other departments. Or it could mean extra borrowing. Both options affect public finances.

For many Kenyans, the issue is not just about numbers. It is about priorities. While State House stays busy, the country is facing economic pressure. The latest data has opened a new debate. How much should running the presidency really cost?