Gachagua admits Gov't is 'having challenges paying salaries'

Speaking during a church service in Mathira Constituency on Sunday, the Deputy President said the financial challenges in the country have also affected counties. 

“It is true we are having challenges in paying salaries, giving money to governors. Because the handshake gov’t ripped this country, they borrowed money left right and centre. Because we are a responsible government, we have to pay this money,” he said. 

Gachagua added that some of the government loans had matured last week, forcing it to pay the debt. 

“What we collected the last two weeks was sufficient to pay the loans. What we are collecting this week will pay salaries and other requirements,” he added. 

The Second in Command reiterated his earlier statement that Ruto’s government “inherited a dilapidated economy with empty coffers.”

Gachagua defended President William Ruto’s government, saying it has had to rebuild everything from scratch as money had been stolen during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime. 

“We are in a difficult situation, we are not the ones who borrowed the money but have to pay because it is owed by Kenya. William Ruto cannot run away from those debts even though he did not incur them,” Gachagua told congregants in his hometown. 

Members of parliament are among the civil servants who have not received their March salaries due to the cash crisis. 

This, the Chairperson of President William Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors, David Ndii also said is as a result of the country’s huge debt. 

“I am talking about weekly maturities of domestic debt held by your banks and pension funds (80% of debt service) which would you rather, a hair cut on your bank deposits or a delayed payments?” Ndii engaged Twitter users on Saturday, saying that retrenching staff could be among government’s options.