Austerity for who? Ruto continues to bloat advisors team despite reduction pledge

In a recent reshuffle, President Ruto instituted changes to accelerate the implementation of his administration's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). 

Professor Edward Kisiang'ani, who was stripped of his Principal Secretary role in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication was appointed senior advisor and member of the President's Council of Economic Advisors.

This however comes after President Ruto, amid pressure mounted by Kenyan youth during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, announced a list of austerity measures to cut down government spending.

Ruto promised to reduce the number of advisors in government by at least 50% with immediate effect.

Ruto also announced the removal of budgets allocated to unconstitutional offices of the First Lady, the second Lady and spouse to the Prime Cabinet Secretary. 

Further, Ruto said confidential budgets in Executive offices will be removed and that at least 47 state corporations with overlapping functions will be dissolved, with employees in those corporations moved to other ministries. 

Four months later, in December 2024, Ruto reneged on his vow and appointed four more advisers to the Council of Economic Advisors.

Among them was former Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria who was shown the door during a Cabinet purge.

The other three were Prof Adams Oloo, Joe Ager and Dr Silvestor Okumu Kasuku, all close allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The team, headed by Ruto's economic adviser David Ndii, now has 12 members as opposed to Ruto's pledge of having less than four members.

Other members of the Council are Augustine Cheruiyot (Agribusiness and Finance), Prof Abdi Guliye (Animal Production), Dr. Dominic Menjo (Food security and Animal production), Dr. Nancy Laiboni, (Agricultural Economics), Henry Kinyua (Crops/value chains) and Steven Otieno (Cooperatives).

The growing number of advisers had even sparked a heated debate, with Kenyans questioning the cost of keeping such a large number on the payroll.

Ndii was forced to defend the malady after reports revealed that their annual bill cost taxpayers Ksh1.1 billion.

“Advisers 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,” Dr Ndii replied to an X user.

Ruto's recent reshuffle in the Executive also saw 7 nominations to Principal Secretary (PS) roles.

Kisiang'ani's position was replaced by Stephen Isaboke, the Group Executive, Head of Regulatory Affairs at MultiChoice Group.

Amos Gathecha was promoted from Principal Secretary of Public Service to Deputy Head of Public Service at the Executive Office of the President. 

Education PS Belio Kipsang was moved to the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services at the Interior Ministry while Medical Services PS Harry Kimtai was now moved to the Mining Ministry. 

Julius Bitok, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary, was transferred to the State Department for Basic Education. 

Dr. Caroline Wanjiru Karugu, former Nyeri Deputy Governor, will now work as Principal Secretary at the State Department for East African Community (EAC) Affairs. 

Karugu was part of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's campaign team for the Africa Union Commission Chairmanship bid. 

Fredrick Ouma Oluga, former Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Secretary-General, was also appointed as PS State Department for Medical Services. 

Oluga served at the helm of KMPDU for five years before resigning in March 2020. 

The new appointments have raised concerns about the growing size of the Kenya Kwanza government and the heavy cost it places on taxpayers.

The move has resulted in the creation of seven new State Departments.