The National Treasury Secretary, John Mbadi, has stated that Kenya is presently governing with an extravagant administration.
Speaking on Citizen TV Mbadi stated that this is due to the fact that salaries for employees in the national government account for approximately Sh960 billion annually.
He mentioned that soon, this figure will exceed the Sh1 trillion mark.
The Cabinet Secretary mentioned that the nation is managing loan repayments totaling approximately Sh1.1 trillion annually.
He made this statement considering an annual revenue collection of approximately Sh2.5 trillion, which explains why the Kenyan economy can be sluggish at times.
"We're dealing with an extremely costly administration here. Currently, we shell out 80 billion Kenyan shillings monthly just for national government wages. Annually, this amounts to around 960 billion shillings, soon reaching one trillion. Our total revenue collection stands at approximately 2.5 trillion shillings, but nearly 1.1 trillion goes toward servicing loans. This leaves us questioning how funds can be allocated towards developmental projects. Consequently, our economic growth often appears lethargic," explained Mbadi.
He observed that Kenya's continuous progress can be attributed to the financial assistance provided by various development partners.
He referred to this assistance from collaborators as mere fortune.
We feel fortunate that our development partners contribute funds, partly through grants, which assists us in expanding.
Mbadi emphasized that it is crucial for Kenyans to engage in a dialogue about whether the present system of governance aligns with their desires.
"There needs to be a discussion. As a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly for 15 years, I recall when Mutava Musyimi was around; I submitted a query to our committee seeking an audit of the government. Former Auditor General Edward Ouko headed a team that produced a comprehensive report presented to Parliament. If only we could revisit this report and engage with Kenyans about whether we require the type of governance we currently have," he stated.
Following the enactment of the 2010 Constitution, Kenya implemented a governmental framework that distributes authority across two tiers: the national level and the county level.
These two tiers operate separately despite the fact that funds for nations are sourced from the National Treasury.
Mbadi additionally mentioned that the 47 decentralized entities have turned into an unmanageable burden for the government due to the escalating salary expenses.
He mentioned that the eight provinces prior to the establishment of the 2010 Constitution could tackle the present economic downturn impacting the nation.
"Each of the 47 counties has its own complete government structure, led by a governor who acts as a miniature president alongside their deputy, often referred to as a running mate. These leaders face challenges in finding meaningful tasks to undertake. Additionally, there are ministers capped at ten, which is the highest allowed number; followed by chief officers, whose count exceeds ten; and finally, county assemblies," he explained.
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