Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has dismissed claims by Transparency International Kenya (TISA) official Diana Gichengo that his office has a Ksh36 billion budget.

He has labelled the assertion as a very big lie, urging Gichengo to stop sensationalising issues that may end up inciting the members of the public against his office and that of other top state officials.

In a statement issued on Friday, June 6, 2025, Mwaura clarified that his office does not have a budget of Ksh36 billion, refuting Gichengo’s statement made during a recent interview on a local TV station.

“My office does not have a budget of Ksh36 billion. Diana Gichengo of TISA and her cohorts have done a halfhearted clarification on their misguided statement.”

In the interview, Gichengo said that the Government Spokesperson’s office is allocated Ksh36 billion to run for this financial year’s activities, a claim that Mwaura vehemently denied.

“They are telling us to live according to the size of our wallet, our earnings, we are straining allocations are saying otherwise. The amount has been split to the Office of the President, Office of the Deputy President, and State House. It also has the office of the spokesperson of government. And it also has the state cooperation of advisory committee,” Gishengo said.

“Last year, this government spokesperson who is still under this office of the presidency, their subsistence budget was subsistence and travel was Ksh19.2 billion. Then we’ve decided this year the budget is tight. The spokesperson needs to travel more, okay, okay, until Kenyans budget is tight, the budget has gone up to Ksh36 billion.”

Mwaura’s plea

 He urged Gichengo to cease spreading falsehoods and to focus on constructive criticism rather than sensationalising issues.

Mwaura also addressed concerns about the allocation of funds to presidential advisors.

 “People who want to decide for others so that they can achieve their intention, let me take an example and lie to the Presidential Advisor’s office has been allocated Ksh24 billion. How do you tell Kenyans that the advisors of the President, that’s a lie, a very big lie, the budget of my office, my friend.”

“Peddling falsehoods to incite Kenyans to create chaos and hoodwink foreign donors is unpatriotic,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in government spending and called for accurate reporting on public finances.

“If you want to give your views on the finance bill, do so without peddling lies and giving the people a wrong impression of the things that are not there,” he said.

He reiterated the commitment of his office to uphold transparency and to serve the interests of the Kenyan people.

CLARIFICATION:My office doesn't have a budget of Ksh 36 Billion.Diana Gishengo of TISA & her cohorts have done a halfhearted clarification on their misguided statement. Peddling falsehoods to incite Kenyans in order to create chaos and hoodwink foreign donors is unpatriotic. pic.twitter.com/Ngrg30xHUu

— Dr. Isaac Mwaura CBS (@MwauraIsaac1) June 6, 2025