A new report has revealed that President William Ruto’s office spent an average of KSh 2.2 million every day on printing during the last financial year, sparking debate over government spending priorities.
The figures were published in August by the Office of the Controller of Budget, led by Margaret Nyakang’o. Her report, which covered the period from July 2024 to June 2025, put the Executive Office of the President’s total printing bill at KSh 817 million.
According to the report, the money went into producing official documents including policy papers, executive orders, proclamations to ministries, performance contracts, and material for press briefings and regional forums. The office also cited the need for high-quality invitation cards for State House events as a contributor to the ballooning costs.
Dr Nyakang’o noted that while government departments require printed material to function, the sheer size of the bill demanded scrutiny. “This raises questions about efficiency and cost management in the use of public resources,” her office observed in the report.
The Presidency defended the spending, pointing to the scale of work handled daily. Officials argued that frequent communication with ministries, diplomatic missions, and the media required high standards and speed.
Still, the numbers have unsettled many Kenyans, who are already facing higher taxes and a rising cost of living. On social media, critics asked why a digital-first administration was spending so heavily on paper.
Transparency campaigners have also weighed in. “If the government is serious about cutting waste, State House should lead by example,” said one Nairobi-based governance expert, noting that many ministries have moved to electronic systems to reduce printing costs.
Beyond printing, the Controller of Budget’s report also flagged other areas of high expenditure in the presidency, though full details have not yet been made public. The report will be tabled before Parliament in the coming weeks for scrutiny.
For now, the question remains whether spending KSh 2.2 million daily on printing is a matter of necessity — or extravagance.