Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of mismanaging public finances, increasing Kenya’s debt burden and engaging in wasteful spending during its four years in office.
Speaking on Tuesday during an accountability address, Gachagua claimed Kenya’s public debt had increased from Sh8.6 trillion when President Ruto took office in August 2022 to Sh13.02 trillion, translating to a debt burden of about Sh221,000 for every Kenyan.
He questioned the pace of government borrowing, expenditure at State House and delays in disbursing funds to counties, arguing that the increased borrowing had not been matched by corresponding development.
The opposition leader also compared the borrowing levels of successive administrations, saying the Ruto government had accumulated debt at a significantly higher rate while placing an increasing financial burden on ordinary Kenyans.
“Looking back, we know that the Grand Coalition government borrowed an average of 200 billion shillings annually. The Jubilee Government of Uhuru Kenyatta borrowed an average of 700 billion shillings annually. This regime of William Ruto borrows an average of 1.4 trillion annually, with no corresponding development.”
Gachagua further alleged that the government had borrowed more than Sh5 trillion since August 2022, describing the pace of borrowing as dangerous.
“This regime is on a borrowing spree, borrows an average of 3.5 billion Kenya shillings daily and steals 3 billion shillings daily. Why borrow to steal? On average, this government steals from the people of Kenya 125 million shillings every hour. Calculated, this government is stealing every minute 2 million shillings from the people of Kenya.”
Gachagua’s address comes as Kenya’s public debt continues to rise, with the debt stock increasing from about Sh8.76 trillion at the end of FY2021/22 to Sh11.81 trillion by June 2025, according to Treasury data.
The government has also faced pressure from high debt-servicing costs and revenue shortfalls, constraining its ability to meet spending obligations, including transfers to counties.
County equitable-share allocations stood at Sh370 billion in FY2021/22, rising to Sh428 billion in FY2023/24. Meanwhile, State House allocations have increased substantially under President Ruto, adding to concerns over public expenditure. The growing debt burden and competing spending demands have intensified scrutiny of the government’s fiscal management.
Moving further, the former deputy president also questioned whether the government was complying with constitutional and statutory requirements on public borrowing.
“On the debt management, why is this regime in open violation of Article 211 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and Section 15, Section 152C of the Public Finance Management Act 2012, that strictly prohibits the financing of regarded expenditure using debt.”
Gachagua also criticised government expenditure, pointing to the growth of the State House budget from Sh8 billion to Sh18 billion in the current financial year.
“State House budget has grown from Sh8 billion to Sh18 billion, an increment of over Sh10 billion. These are the funds that are used to bribe the people of Kenya, and lately, sheikhs, private security officers, village elders, teachers, chiefs, etc.”
He argued that the additional allocation should instead be redirected towards easing the financial pressure facing households and supporting development in arid and semi-arid areas.
“State House does not need Sh18 billion for 12 months. These funds will be used to subsidize rising fuel and food costs for the benefit of Kenyans. Or better still, these funds can be used to ensure farmers in arid and semi-arid lands have access to clean water for domestic purposes, farming, and for their lives.”
The DCP leader further accused the administration of delaying funds to counties, saying cash-flow problems had disrupted county operations and contributed to the accumulation of pending bills.
He concluded that the government’s financial management had failed to deliver on its promise to reduce the cost of government and manage public debt responsibly.
“Four years down the line, the government introduced new tax measures, expired statutory deductions, implemented changes to public finance management undertook toxic borrowing to finance government programs.