Kenyan taxpayers to foot $45 million bill for President Ruto’s new Cabinet

Kenya’s President William Ruto finalized the formation of the country’s most bloated Executive in recent history on Thursday, which is estimated to consume Ksh13.2 billion ($101 million) in five years, despite intrigues surrounding the selection of 50 chief administrative secretaries (CASs).

The Nation has learned that Kenya’s State House first requested that the Public Service Commission (PSC) establish 23 CAS positions, which have now been increased to 50, indicating clashing political interests that saw the shortlist revised at one stage to allow additional applications.

“By way of this letter, the Commission is requested to declare 23 vacancies in the Office of the Chief Administrative Secretaries; and thereafter proceed to commence the recruitment process on a priority basis,” said then-Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua in a letter to the Public Service Commission on October 11, 2022.

The 50 CASs, who President Ruto intends to work as liaisons between ministries, Parliament, and counties, would cost Kenyan taxpayers Ksh460 million ($3.5 million) in wages every year, for a total of Ksh2.3 billion ($177 million) over five years.

CAS has been classed by the PSC as CSG3, which is comparable to Job Group V, and they are eligible to a monthly remuneration of Ksh765,188 ($5,890).

CASs, like principal secretaries, are entitled to a Ksh35 million ($2.7 million) mortgage and a Ksh10 million ($77,000) automobile grant (Ksh8 million for PSs), all of which would cost the government Ksh2.25 billion ($17.3 million) in one-time payments spread out over five years. Each CAS will also get Ksh10 million and Ksh3 million ($23,000) in inpatient and outpatient medical coverage from taxpayers.

Over the course of five years, taxpayers will pay Ksh5.856 billion ($45 million) in wages, Ksh4.415 billion ($34 million) in mortgages, Ksh1.128 billion ($8.7 million) in auto loans, and Ksh1.815 billion ($14 million) in CS, PS, and CAS gratuities.

Furthermore, although the home and auto loans are repayable within five years, the demand on taxpayers to foot the almost Ksh3 billion ($23 million) tab during a period of budget cutbacks and austerity may force belt-tightening in other areas of the economy.

A CAS is also entitled to two high-end cars, a driver, an undisclosed number of security people to accompany him or her and protect their Nairobi and rural residences, a personal assistant, and two secretaries.

The government may obtain more office space for ministries that are unable to accommodate another senior person, resulting in an additional expense to the public. Because to insufficient space, certain CASs were placed separate from their line ministries under previous President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Gender equality

President Ruto also failed to meet the two-thirds gender criterion in the CAS list, with just 14 of the 50 positions being filled by women.

President Ruto has 22 Cabinet Secretaries, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and 51 Permanent Secretaries. Mr Kenyatta accumulated 29 CASs and 44 PSs. Even though the Constitution limits the number of ministries to 22, Mr Kenyatta’s creation of the CAS office does not restrict the President.

The rise in the number of CASs from Uhuru’s 29 to 50 has enabled President Ruto to reward allies, August 2022 vote losers from opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Nyanza area, and campaign bigwigs.

The intrigues in the selection of the CASs started with the shortlisting, with six of the 16 candidates added after the original list was released being among the 50 people proposed.

Apart from legislators who were defeated in the elections, the president has also recognized those who played critical roles in his campaigns behind the scenes.

Vice President Rigathi Gachagua defended the CAS job last week, saying it was critical to support the CSs and PSs in ministries.

Last week, Mr Odinga called the CAS appointments a waste of public money, stating that the monies being spent to extend the Executive should instead be utilized to address the high cost of living and provide financing to institutions of higher study.

“Now is not the time to establish offices and jobs for Kenya Kwanza political rejects. Instead, Kenya Kwanza must be made to shift resources to make life more bearable for all of our residents,” he stated.