The total budget for David Ndii’s office for the year has come to Sh. 1.1 billion for the year and when this issue came out David Ndii has had a big media fight with Kenyans who are accusing him of being “Waste of Public Money” for the Ruto regime and not the Economic Advisor that he was appointed to do.
Economist David Ndii has sought to justify why his office will receive more than Sh 194 million in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
As borne in this year’s Budget Policy Statement, the Kenyan taxpayer is set to cumulatively splurge over Sh 1.1 billion on the pool of President William Ruto’s advisers.
David Ndii’s Presidential Council of Economic Advisers would receive Sh 194 million, with a good chunk being on, among others, entertainment and travel.
Observant Kenyans questioned why such extravagance despite the many calls for austerity measures on the side of the government.
Granted, those concerned sought to know how the monies would be utilized.
“Question. How many members of staff does Ndii’s office have? So, the president’s economic advisor needs bodyguards, drivers, cooks, and gardeners? All these just to advise the president?” posed Moses Shauri.
Quick to shed light, Ndii explained that the advisers befit the allocation owing to their levels of education and expertise.
“We have 10 CS/PS level advisors, of which 5 Ph.D.s (4 professors) ~ 15 support staff (0 bodyguards),” he answered.
Ndii added,” Advisors are not paid entertainment allowance. The budget is for meetings. Our job entails policy development and implementation oversight. That means convening meetings typically 3 – 4 per day with 10 – 30 people each. The biggest facility in our office is boardrooms.”
Ndii is on record admitting that the government is essentially extravagant.
The economist who chairs the Presidential Council of Economic Advisers suggested the government may not shun the globetrotting spree anytime soon.
While the state has argued that the travels are of great importance to the country, Ndii appeared to be of a different opinion.
“Government is wasteful. And this administration has an itchy feet problem,” he said.
For a time now, foreign trips by government officials have been constituting the areas the exchequer splashes monies on.
The expenses are on bloated delegations, expensive flights, accommodation, and allowances.
The travels have been competing with other vital areas such as health and education for allocations.
Taking to his X account, Ndii dismissed the alleged Sh1.1 billion allocation to his team, terming it as false.
In particular, Ndii refuted claims that advisors were paid an entertainment allowance and that they needed bodyguards to protect them.
Ndii was forced to respond to the claims after a section of Kenyans raised concerns about the outrageous proposed allocation to government advisors.
“Advisors are not paid entertainment allowance,” the chief economist clarified in his response to a social media user.
According to Ruto’s right-hand man, the multi-billion budget was meant to fund meetings, and that his job entailed policy development and implementation oversight.
“That means convening meetings typically 3 – 4 per day with 10 – 30 people each. The biggest facility in our office is boardrooms,” Ndii stated.
The economist also dismissed allegations that Cabinet Secretaries were more helpful to the president than advisors, stating that the advisors were wiser.
“It stands to reason that we have a better idea on how to implement it than ministries. We are the vision carriers,” Ndii claimed.
Ndii’s response comes against the backdrop of claims of Ksh1.1 billion kitty for the president’s consultants proposed by the National Treasury for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The advisors are expected to provide ideas to help the government deliver its mandate to the public.
Sunday, May 12, 2024 – Lawyer Miguna Miguna has lashed out at the chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, David Ndii, over his remarks that he is entitled to billions of payout as President William Ruto’s advisor.
Ndii and his coterie have been allocated Sh 1.3 billion in the financial year 2024/25, which has sparked a heated debate among Kenyans.
“When serving in public office, it’s judged by one’s recorded contributions and integrity.
“David Ndii is desperate to justify wanton and obscene plunder of public resources through exploitative wages, first-class air travel, five-star hotel accommodations, and other wastage with zero visible positive results for 50 million Kenyans,” Miguna wrote.
And to pay for the huge waste by President and his team of crooks, Kenyans are going to be taxed to the tooth. Here is one new tax.
Vehicle owners to pay Sh100,000 in new tax proposals
The Finance Bill 2024 has proposed the introduction of a Motor Vehicle Tax, with a rate of 2.5 per cent of the vehicle’s value.
The minimum tax payable to the Commissioner on each vehicle at the time of the issuance of an insurance cover will be Sh5,000 with a maximum amount of Sh100,000.
There is a lot of insanity in the Ruto regime and David Ndii’s arrogance is just one of them. Take the case of the mastermind in selling bogus fertilizers to Kenyan farmers and making sure there will be no food security in the nation in the next year. Ruto will make sure his guy is not impeached because the whole issue in parliament according to Ruto CS Linturi was about his ex-wife. Just the shame of this is embarrassing.
Senator Mithika Linturi and Marianne Kitany
