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Details of how the swearing in ceremony of President William Ruto was planned and executed have now come to the fore even as it emerged that the planning team overshoot its budget by a whooping Sh80 million.

A report by the Assumption of the Office of President Committee chaired by former Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua shows that while the team had been allocated Sh250 million for the inauguration, it spent Sh330.7 million.

According to the report tabled in the National Assembly by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah (pictured), the increase in the budget is due to unprecedented number of Heads of State and other high-level State foreign delegations.

During the event, about 56 foreign delegations graced the event, comprising 19 Heads of State and government, 37 delegations at various levels ranging from prime ministers, Vice-Presidents, ministers, ambassadors and special envoys as well as two former presidents.

Ruto was sworn-in on September 13 at the Kasarani stadium after the Supreme Court upheld his victory in the August 9 General Election.

“Budget for the execute office of the President was appropriated towards the fabrication and setting up of the presidential dais and pavilion, inauguration arena Very, Very Important (VVIP) dais, Very Important Person (VIP) dais that held over 3,000 persons and all the other ancillary décor and fixtures including additional screens as well as defraying the cost of hosting state luncheon at State House,” the report.

To ensure timely preparations for the event, the committee had set up five sub-committees to help with the planning purposes.