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Second Lady Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has responded to plans to freeze budget allocation to her office in line with the new austerity measures announced by President William Ruto.

Speaking during a Church Service in Mathira Constituency on Sunday, July 7, 2024, Dorcas noted that she did not have any objection to the plans to freeze funds remittance to her office.

However, she insisted that her passion for advocating for the rights of the boychild will not be halted by the austerity measures.

Dorcas told the congregants that she started the boychild transformation programme before Gachagua was sworn into office as she more focused on the course.

“Kama vile wananchi wamesema hawataki Second Lady awe na budget ni sawa, lakini kazi ya wavulana sitawacha (As the citizens have said they don’t want the Second Lady to have a budget, that is fine but the boychild transformation programme will not stop). That is a vision and passion I have for the boy child. I cannot stop because I started even before I was in office,” Dorcas stated.

Dorcas’ appeal to churches

With her office expected to lose close to Ksh557 million which was allocated for the 2024/25 Financial Year, Dorcas appealed to the church to step up and assist her in the boychild transformation agenda.

Dorcas emphasised that the programme could sail on smoothly if religious leaders agreed to support her. She also indicated that well-wishers can join and help in the boychild transformation programme.

“As a church, I believe God has blessed us and we can be able to change the lives of our young people. The church has the authority God gave us to do what we have to do,” she said.

“You young people can also bring other young people into the church we mentor them and we raise that money within ourselves.”

Ruto’s stance

According to a parliamentary report, the budget for First Lady Rachel Ruto’s office was initially set to increase by 17.3 per cent to Ksh696 million, largely for salaries.

Conversely, funding for the Second Lady Dorcas Gachagua’s office was reduced from Ksh717 million to Ksh557 million.

Facing intense pressure, President Ruto refused to endorse the Finance Bill 2024 stating that its withdrawal would force to implement tough austerity measures.

“Offices such as that of the First Lady have existed before, but from tomorrow we are going to do away with that and other offices so that we can check our spending,” President Ruto announced.

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