Margaret Nyakango, the Controller of Budget, who recently faced legal issues with charges of attempted forgery and operating an unlicensed Sacco, has unveiled detailed revelations regarding the exaggeration of government salaries and allowances. The shocking findings were exposed in the Budget Implementation Review Report, accessible via media, shedding light on fiscal discrepancies during the first three months (July to September) of President William Ruto's Ksh3 trillion budget implementation.

Nyakango, previously known for exposing exaggerations in her own salary, has expanded her claims to encompass widespread financial mismanagement across various government offices. The report not only highlighted salary exaggerations but also pointed out that allowances for certain officials surpassed the prescribed amounts set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). However, the specific individuals whose salaries were inflated were not explicitly identified in the report.

The document emphasized the importance of budget rationalization, urging that any necessary adjustments be based on the approved Program-Based Budget and actual figures to provide an accurate representation of government expenditures. It stressed the need to avoid exaggerations in known expenditures, ensuring that budget cuts align with approved programs, desired outputs, and outcomes.

Nyakango recommended that the National Treasury should prioritize cuts for non-essential expenditures, streamline administrative costs, and optimize subsidies through targeted interventions to promote fiscal sustainability. She urged the Treasury to enhance accuracy in the budgeting process, advocating for realistic representations of government spending on employee salaries.

In response to the revelations, Treasury CS Njunguna Ndung'u, during an interview on Spice FM last month, acknowledged the challenges in accurately estimating certain elements, such as travel expenses, for government officers. He defended the budget estimates, stating that they are used for expenditures, including unpredictable factors like travel, and refuted allegations of misappropriation, insisting that estimates are adjusted based on actual spending at the end of the year.