Ruku says govt needs additional Ksh84B annually to address revenue gap
Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programs Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has stated that the national government needs an additional Ksh84 billion every financial year to address the revenue gap.
According to Ruku, the government is facing a serious challenge in raising enough revenue to meet its obligations.
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Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Monday night, September 1, 2025, Ruku explained that the current revenue collections are insufficient, creating a disparity that affects the country’s financial stability.
“The challenge which we have as a government at the moment is the issue related to revenue of the Republic of Kenya. For the disparity to be addressed, we need an additional Ksh84 billion every financial year,” Ruku said.
The former MP added that Kenyans need to focus on how to raise revenues as a government and as a nation to fund essential services while also ensuring that those who are poorly remunerated receive fair pay.
“What we need to address as Kenyans is how to raise revenues as a government and as a nation so that we can take care of all other services which the people of Kenya require, and at the same time ensure those who are not well remunerated get their fair pay,” he said.
He noted that bridging the gap would allow the government to implement development projects and meet budgetary needs more effectively.
Ruku on Tax collection
Additionally, Ruku further backed President William Ruto’s call for the expansion of tax collection, stating that the president was right in calling for the expansion of Kenya’s tax base.
He went on to say that proper tax administration would help consolidate revenue and provide enough resources to pay or harmonise salaries.
“When the president says we need to expand our tax base, that is the truth. We need to expand our tax base, and one of the ways of expanding our tax base is by ensuring that tax administration is properly taken care of, so that we can consolidate that and be able to get enough resources to take care of salaries or harmonise the salaries,” he added.
2025/2026 budget
Additionally, the CS revealed that the government has slashed more than Ksh150 billion from vital public services in the 2025/26 budget.
“This year the government has to cut not less than 150 billion Kenya shillings from very vital services which are required by the people of Kenya to align the budget, to maintain the physical deficit below 5 per cent of the GDP,” he said.
He explained that the cuts were necessary to align the national budget with available revenues, even though every sector faces pressing demands.
“Cutting Ksh150 billion is one of the most difficult jobs you can be given in the executive, because every requirement in the budget is needed,” Ruku added.
