Trials push up Hague budget

Kenya’s mission at The Hague has tripled its hospitality budget for the new financial year starting in July.

This could be in readiness for the Ocampo Six trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to the estimates in Parliament, the mission’s budget for hospitality has increased from Sh2.4 million this year to Sh9.3 million.

The hospitality budget caters for cocktails, receptions, tea and snacks given to visitors hosted by the embassy.

The increase comes as the six Kenyans said to bear the greatest responsibility for the post-election violence prepare for the confirmation hearings scheduled for September.

To get the money, the Treasury – headed by one of the suspects, Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta — cut the amount for scholarships from Sh8.8 million to Sh5.5 million.

It also did not allocate any monies for the refurbishment of buildings, which got Sh1.5 million this year.

The other suspects are Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, suspended Cabinet ministers William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, Postmaster-General Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua Sang.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw its budget for foreign travel fall from Sh693 million to Sh431 million.

The travel budget for Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was slashed from Sh260 million to Sh60 million.

The VP will also have Sh370,000 only to make foreign trips as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, down from Sh2.3 million.

But even as the Vice-President was being grounded, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President Kibaki have been given more money to travel in their final year in office.

State House got Sh15.9 million, up from Sh5.7 million for foreign travel.

Similarly, the budget for garden parties, receptions and cocktails at State House has risen to Sh222 million from Sh182 million, while funds for training doubled from Sh4.6 million to Sh10.5 million.

The Head of State also got Sh50 million for new vehicles and an additional Sh46 million for “overhaul of vehicles and other transport equipment”.

The total allocation for State House rose from Sh1.08 billion to Sh1.28 billion.

Mr Kenyatta has proposed that the Prime Minister be allocated Sh102 million for foreign travel, up from Sh98 million.

The PM’s entertainment kitty has risen by Sh15 million to Sh79 million, while Sh27 million has been set aside for pensions and retirement benefits under the PM’s office.

Former President Daniel arap Moi has been allocated Sh64 million, with Sh9 million for foreign travel and Sh2.3 million for hospitality.

Among the embassies, the mission in Oman registered the highest rise in travel funds, from Sh200,000 this year to Sh1.19 million.

The money for hospitality also rose from Sh400,000 to Sh1.05 million.

Also getting a boost in its hospitality budget is the Juba mission, whose allocation for hosting guests rose from Sh2.4 million to Sh4 million.