The government’s first-quarter spending shows a sharp overshoot in several top offices, with State House emerging as the department with the largest gap between its approved budget and actual expenditure.
According to the National Treasury, State House spent Sh4.32 billion between July and September, far exceeding its quarterly allocation of Sh1.92 billion, pushing its recurrent spending 125 percent above the set ceiling.
The overspending trend exposes ongoing challenges in controlling public expenditure, even as President William Ruto’s administration has pledged to rein in costs and stabilize the national budget.
The Treasury data raises concerns about expenditure oversight in politically sensitive and security-related departments, where breaches can increase the need for additional borrowing and add to the country’s debt burden.
The Office of the Deputy President also surpassed its allocation, using Sh1.11 billion compared to the approved Sh743 million, while the National Police Service, Internal Security, and National Intelligence Service collectively exceeded their budgets by almost Sh17 billion. These figures come as the Treasury continues to promote more efficient spending and curb growth in the fiscal deficit.
“In the 2026/27 fiscal year, the government will continue implementing its fiscal consolidation plan aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit and containing growth in public debt. This will be done while safeguarding essential service delivery through enhanced domestic revenue mobilisation and prudent expenditure management,” Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated in the 2025 Budget Review and Outlook Paper.
He further noted, “The government will continue to strengthen public financial management by improving expenditure efficiency through the implementation of end-to-end e-Government Procurement System, integrated human resource management systems, pension reforms, expanded use of Public-Private Partnerships and governance reforms in State Corporations.” Despite these commitments, the latest data suggest recurrent spending controls are still being tested.
The National Police Service alone spent Sh36.94 billion, surpassing its target by more than Sh5.59 billion. The Internal Security and National Administration department spent Sh13.99 billion against an allocation of Sh7.97 billion, while the National Intelligence Service used Sh17.96 billion instead of the planned Sh12.86 billion.
The State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs also exceeded its recurrent budget, recording Sh14.09 billion against Sh7.28 billion.
The State Department for Basic Education went over its limit, spending Sh29.21 billion instead of the approved Sh27.36 billion, reflecting the rising cost of the Competency-Based Education system.
