Njeri Maina: Kenya may take 30 years to recover from looting done by current regime
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has warned that the looting being carried out under President William Ruto’s administration could cripple the country for decades.
In a statement shared on her X account on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the legislator expressed concern that the magnitude of the reported plunder poses a grave threat to the country’s stability and development. She argued that the recovery process could stretch over a generation, leaving ordinary Kenyans to bear the heaviest burden of mismanagement.
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Maina further cautioned that the unchecked diversion of public funds risks stalling key development projects, weakening institutions, and eroding public trust in government.
“I do think that the kind of looting being perpetuated right now by the current president’s regime, the depth and scale of it, shall take roughly 30 years for this country to recover. It’s unfortunate, it’s unfortunately the truth, and I pray that successive governments have the goodwill to do right by the people of Kenya,” Njeri Maina said.
State House lavish spending
Her remarks come shortly after Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o released a new report showing that President Ruto’s office spent more than Ksh800 million on printing documents in the last financial year.
According to the report, which was published on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the money was used to produce certificates, invitation cards, parking permits, and other office materials. On average, this translated to about Ksh68 million every month or Ksh2.2 million per day.
“The documents included important certificates, invitation cards, parking permits, and other office materials.”
The same report revealed that Nairobi State House, which runs on a Ksh12 billion budget, used Ksh400 million on renovations and interior works during the same period. Since the project began in early 2025, a total of Ksh1.17 billion has already been spent. Renovation works are currently 66 per cent complete and are expected to be finalised by 2027.
“The overall cost of the project is now projected to exceed the original construction budget,” the report noted.
The Office of the President received Ksh4.6 billion to run its activities during the 2024/25 financial year. Apart from printing and renovations, the office also spent Ksh1 billion on advisory services. These included advisory on Kenyan and South Sudanese affairs at Ksh62 million, counter-terrorism advisors at Ksh450 million, economic and social advisors at Ksh97 million, and policy advisors at Ksh150 million.
Daily operations consumed Ksh1.9 billion, covering salaries, administrative costs, and other essential functions needed to keep the office running.
Nairobi State House has been under refurbishment for most of the year, but the Budget Controller warned that the works are already pushing costs higher than initially planned.
“According to the Budget Controller’s report, the renovation work is currently 66 per cent complete, with full completion expected in 2027,” the findings said.
The revelations are part of a wider analysis of the Ksh4 trillion national budget, which details how government spending was distributed in the 2024/25 financial year.
Nyakang’o said the report aims to improve accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
“The report sheds light on how government funds are allocated and spent at the highest level of administration. The transparency in reporting is aimed at keeping taxpayers informed on how public funds are being utilised at the executive level,” she emphasised.
