Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has intensified his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration, questioning the government’s spending priorities as millions of Kenyans grapple with taxes, statutory deductions and the rising cost of living.
In a statement posted on social media Sifuna challenged the President over the housing levy, contributions to the Social Health Authority (SHA) and what he described as excessive expenditure on government operations.
“Is he done ranting about the Sh 24000 I pay for his housing scam because kuna hii Sh 43000I pay every month for his SHA scam we also need to discuss,” Sifuna said.
The senator also questioned the use of taxpayers’ money to finance presidential expenditure, arguing that ordinary Kenyans were being asked to shoulder a heavy financial burden while the government continued to spend billions of shillings.
“Tukimaliza hio ndio tuongee juu ya the Sh 500000 in PAYE he takes every single month and splashes on tea and mandazi pale State House,” stated Sifuna.
The presidential hopeful',s remarks have brought renewed attention to the cost of maintaining the presidency and the allocation of public resources at a time when the government continues to defend its revenue-raising measures.
Official budget figures show that State House expenditure has remained in the billions of shillings during President Ruto’s administration.
According to the government’s 2026/27 Programme-Based Budget, State House recorded actual expenditure of Sh10.4 billion in the 2022/23 financial year, Sh11.3 billion in 2023/24 and Sh12 billion in 2024/25.
The corresponding gross approved budgets were Sh11.9 billion, Sh11.3 billion and Sh12.1 billion, respectively.
The figures cover the wider State House vote, which includes more than the President’s personal office.
It encompasses presidential support functions, State Lodges, the Presidential Communication Service, policy analysis and research, and the Office of the First Lady, among other responsibilities.
The expenditure figures therefore should not be interpreted as money spent exclusively on the President’s personal needs.
Nevertheless, the scale of the allocations provides a basis for questions about the cost of running the presidency, the efficiency of public spending and whether government institutions are exercising sufficient restraint.
The debate over State House expenditure comes against the backdrop of the 2024 anti-tax protests, which forced the government to withdraw the Finance Bill 2024.
The protests, initially triggered by proposed tax increases, broadened into demands for accountability, reduced government expenditure and action against corruption.
Following the withdrawal of the Bill, the government announced plans to cut spending and revise its budget to address a revenue shortfall.
The revised 2024/25 national budget reduced planned overall expenditure from approximately Sh3.99 trillion to Sh3.87 trillion.
The controversy placed renewed pressure on the government to demonstrate that spending cuts were being applied across public institutions rather than leaving ordinary Kenyans to bear the burden of fiscal adjustments.
For critics of the administration, the question is whether the government’s spending priorities reflect the economic realities facing households.
Sifuna’s remarks also revive the political dispute over the housing levy, which funds the government’s affordable housing programme.
Critics have questioned compulsory deductions from workers’ earnings, arguing that they reduce disposable income at a time when households are struggling with food, transport, school fees and other essential expenses.
The rollout of SHA has similarly attracted debate over contribution rates, implementation challenges and access to healthcare.
However, Sifuna’s references to Sh24,000 for housing and Sh43,000 for SHA were not accompanied by details explaining the calculations or the circumstances to which the figures apply.
His remarks about Sh500,000 in monthly PAYE and its alleged use for tea and mandazi at State House also require clarification which was absent in the statement.
The statement does not establish that the amount represents a verified monthly expenditure on refreshments.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, Sifuna has vowed to pursue spending reductions and measures intended to ease the financial burden on Kenyan workers.
“In 2027 we are cutting the fat out of our budget to bring relief to all Kenyan workers,” he said.
He added: “The housing levy will go with Ruto.”
The declaration signals that taxation, government expenditure and workers’ take-home pay are likely to remain contentious political issues ahead of the next election.
At the centre of the debate is a question that continues to confront the administration: how can the government finance its development agenda while demonstrating fiscal discipline and ensuring that ordinary Kenyans are not left carrying a disproportionate share of the burden?
