Willis Otieno questions Ksh600M monthly State spending on DP’s office logistics
By Faith Lagat, April 11, 2026Lawyer and Safina Party Deputy President-designate Willis Otieno has raised concerns over Parliament’s approval of an additional Ksh1.8 billion allocation to the Office of the Deputy President for the final three months of the 2025/26 financial year.
In a statement shared on X on April 11, 2026, Otieno broke down the spending to approximately Ksh600 million per month, translating to about Ksh20 million per day.
“At roughly Ksh 600 million per month, translating to about Ksh 20 million daily, the allocation signals a prioritisation of administrative and logistical consumption, including high-cost helicopter services, over capital investment and service delivery,” Otieno stated.
He said the spending raises questions at a time when the government has been urging Kenyans to embrace austerity measures, adjust to higher taxes and cope with reduced public services.
Scrutiny over helicopter and logistics expenditure
This comes days after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing President William Ruto and his deputy Kindiki of reckless government spending at a time when the country is grappling with rising public debt.
The additional funding has come under increased attention following scrutiny of the operational costs of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s office.
Records from the 2024/25 financial year show the office accumulated pending bills amounting to nearly Ksh478 million. Of that amount, about Ksh150 million is owed to helicopter service providers.
Members of the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee examined the spending during a session on Thursday, focusing on the scale of transport and logistics expenses incurred by the office.
Committee members raised questions over entries showing millions of shillings spent on helicopter travel across several counties in a single day.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo questioned an entry covering flights to Tharaka, Laikipia, Isiolo and Kitui, asking: “Is it reasonable?”
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo also raised concerns over repeated travel to certain locations, saying: “Kipipiri, Tharaka, Tharaka, Tharaka… can the Deputy President work in one village?”
Hospitality costs and pending bills examined
The committee also reviewed hospitality-related expenditures recorded under the office’s operational costs.
Lawmakers sought clarification on spending related to catering services, fresh flowers and food supplies as they examined how the office accumulated the pending bills owed to suppliers.
Principal Administrative Secretary Moses Mbaruku was tasked with providing explanations and documentation regarding the expenditures and the outstanding payments.
Public Accounts Committee chairperson Tindi Mwale defended the Deputy President’s movements, stating: “The DP has a right to go home… yes, he is the Deputy President.”
The Ksh1.8 billion allocation forms part of a supplementary budget approved by Parliament to support government operations during the remaining months of the financial year.
The Public Accounts Committee is continuing its review of the expenditure as part of its oversight role on the use of public funds by government offices and institutions.