In a recent revelation, the Controller of Budget (COB) has exposed that both the State House and the Ministry of Interior secretly spent Sh3.6 billion outside the approved FY 2023/24 budget. This disclosure follows the COB’s decision to withhold approval for nearly half of their combined Sh6.0 billion request due to concerns about transparency and proper justification.
State House sought Sh2.8 billion, allegedly for national security and state functions. However, the COB only approved Sh1.2 billion, leaving the bulk of the request unapproved. On the other hand, the Ministry of Interior requested Sh3.1 billion, claiming the funds were necessary for multi-agency operations. They received Sh2.6 billion, while Sh500 million was left unapproved.
This situation raises questions about financial management in critical government offices, particularly the level of transparency and the justification for such significant expenditures. Calls for accountability are expected to intensify as more details emerge.
For now, the spotlight remains on how the remaining funds were spent and the potential implications for both the State House and Interior Ministry moving forward.