President William Ruto has announced that the offices of the First Lady and Second Lady will no longer receive budget allocations starting from July 1, 2024.
This decision is part of a new wave of austerity measures aimed at ensuring the country lives within its means.
Speaking during a roundtable media interview on Sunday, President Ruto explained that while these offices have traditionally been part of the government structure, they will be eliminated from the budget to help achieve financial sustainability.
“I know citizens have said there is no need for the office of the First Lady and Second Lady but these are offices that have been there,” Ruto stated. “But because we have to live within our means, those offices from tomorrow will not be part of our equation because, in the face of what has happened, we have to trim down every other area.”
Additionally, President Ruto promised to cut down the budget of his office, indicating that these cuts would extend to other state departments within his administration. This move is expected to set a precedent for broader budgetary reductions across the government.
