Former Roots Party deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding extravagant government spending, particularly revelations of high expenditures at State House.

According to Wamae, reports that President William Ruto’s office spends millions daily on printing services should not shock Kenyans, as such practices have become “normal in the Kenyan context.” She argued that leaders across both national and county governments often treat public office as an opportunity to accumulate wealth rather than serve the people.

Talking to her X account on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Wamae argued that most people, given the opportunity to be in the State House, Kenya, would eat.

”State House spending of Ksh 2.2M for printing is not a problem; it is very normal in the Kenyan context. Even you, reading this, when given the opportunity to be in the State House, Kenya, would eat as Rice is doing.”

“The problem is that everyone who gets into national and county government sees this as an opportunity to amass wealth and to eat as much as they can to satisfy childhood traumas,” she said.

She further noted that the real problem lies not in isolated spending cases but in a systemic mindset where those in power focus on “eating” to compensate for past deprivations instead of channelling resources toward productive development.

“The enemy is poverty in Kenya, and that’s even more reason we MUST order the disorder in our factors of production to grow the economy. Anybody seeking your vote talking about spending government money instead of creating the wealth of the nation, Kenya, is as clueless as the current office holder. The ONLY AGENDA now should be CREATING WEALTH for the nation of Kenya,” she added.

Wamae has reacted to a new review by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, that has exposed significant government expenditure at the Executive Office of the President during the 2024/2025 financial year.

In her report, Nyakang’o also said, “Ksh.62 million was paid for the Kenya–South Sudan advisory services, Ksh 46 million on the Power of Mercy advisory, and Ksh450 million on counter-terrorism advisory services.”

“The office also splashed out Ksh97 million for advisory services on economic and social affairs, Ksh150 million on strategic policy advisory services, and Ksh251 million on public entities oversight entities.”

According to the report, the office spent an average of Ksh2.2 million daily on printing needs, with the annual bill amounting to Ksh817 million. The report highlights that the money covered the production of official documents such as executive orders, performance contracts, press releases, crisis communication materials, and invitations for the many guests hosted at the State House, Nairobi.