The Chairperson of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisers David Ndii has accused the Kenya Kwanza government of wasteful spending, amid a biting cash crunch.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday night, Ndii said that the current state, in which salaries for civil servants have been delayed, was attributable to poor planning. 

"Government is extremely wasteful, there is not a single day that I am not exasperated by not just how wasteful it is but by how deliberate it is and how unbothered people are. It is true we have a very profligate government," said Ndii.

"I agree with some of the criticisms that are pointed out by the people, that we are not demonstrating frugality that is consistent with the situation we are in as an economy."

Ndii likened the current political and economic instability to "political mismanagement" that he claims happened during the late President Mwai Kibaki's time. 

"I watched Mwai Kibaki mismanage politics from 2003 to 2005, all that we did economically came to naught in 2007. What we had was bravado, hubris, and I think we're currently in a situation which is not dissimilar," Ndii said.

Ndii on independent government agencies

According to Ndii, independent government agencies including investigative agencies, the Controller of Budget and the Auditor General are unable to change things since they have no powers.

"The independent institutions (Auditor General, Controller of budget, Investigative bodies) in the country are totally helpless and are unable to solve the current situation of wastage. We need to strengthen the Auditor General's office so that it does a lot of value for money audit," he added. 

He says that the first step should be aimed at cutting government excesses and cutting down the budget to exclude unnecessary expenditures.

“It is true we are having challenges in paying salaries, giving money to governors. Because the handshake gov’t ripped this country, they borrowed money left right and centre. Because we are a responsible government, we have to pay this money,” Ndii said.  

He said revenue collections for this week will be used to pay civil servants salaries.

“What we collected the last two weeks was sufficient to pay the loans. What we are collecting this week will pay salaries and other requirements.”  By Francis Muli, People Daily