Budgeted Corruption: CoB Nyakang’o Discloses Treasury Inflated Her Salary 3 Times

NAIROBI Kenya October 31 – Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has revealed that that the National Treasury had tripled her annual salary from the Consolidated Fund Services for the 2023/24 financial year, contrary to what she is paid.

While appearing before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) on October 31, Nyakang’o revealed the case was similar to several other government officials.

According to the CoB, the rot and exaggerations were in the National Treasury and has partially contributed to the high cost of living in the country.

“When I was doing the budget for consolidated funds services, this is where my salary is paid from, I found out that my salary was budgeted at three times what I’m paid. I am the only state officer in my institution so there is nothing like confusion there. I’m all alone. So I asked them why is the budget showing three times what my annual salary is. And it was like that for all the state officers. I have not received the answer to date,” she said.

In her proposal to reduce the cost of living in the country, Nyakang’o proposed the reduction of taxes on basic commodities and the expansion of the tax base.

On top of that, she also proposed stringent measures to root out corruption and ensure transparency in government services, as well as ensuring proper utilization of public funds.

Nyakang’o also wants a social welfare programme launched to assist vulnerable populations including the elderly, disabled, and low-income families.

Other experts who appeared before the committee to give their views on the cost of living include specialists from the Institute of Economic Affairs as well as representatives from the Parliamentary Budget Office.

“The cost of living has and continues to be the foremost concern of the Azimio – One Kenya Coalition. Today in our NADCO negotiations, several experts including the Controller of Budget, specialists from the Institute of Economic Affairs as well as the Parliamentary Budget Office walked us through the ways and means of tackling this most critical agenda, indeed our irreducible minimum,” NADCO co-chair Kalonzo Musyoka stated on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.