State House bans gifts for all government employees after Ruto’s UAE-funded jet
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State House Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei warns against the issuance of gifts to government employees to foster transparent public service
State House Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei warns against the issuance of gifts to government employees to foster transparent public service.
Speaking during the unveiling of guidelines on the management and terms of service for heads of state corporations in Nairobi on Tuesday, June 4, Koskei criticized some state corporations for allocating substantial capital to the acquisition of gifts during workshops and seminars despite the country’s dire financial state.
The State House Chief of Staff insisted that state corporations’ expenditures must not exceed revenues collected, adding that MPs must pay close attention to the 2024–2025 budget to ensure it doesn’t provide avenues for tax misuse.
“No more giveaways like power banks, Maasai shukas, and diaries. You walk into a state corporation meeting and leave with nearly a tonne of freebies, all while we’re still borrowing. So, as we leave here, spread the message that we are not going to allow an environment that will enable corruption,” he said.
According to the Public Officer Ethics Act, gifts given to public officers in their official capacity are classified as gifts to the state.
They should be declared and surrendered to the government.
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Such gifts include free passage, hospitality, and favours from any person who has an interest that may be affected by the officer’s official duties.
“A public officer may accept a gift given to him/her in his/her official capacity but, unless the gift is a non-monetary gift that does not exceed KSh 20,000 in value, the gift shall be surrendered,” the act reads.
Koskei’s directive comes days after President William Ruto clarified how his travel to the US for the state visit was funded.
In response to reports that the presidency chartered a VVIP plane for KSh 200 million, Ruto explained that he had initially sought a plane to fly to the US and found the cheapest option would cost KSh 70 million.
Subsequently, Ruto instructed his aides to book him a KQ flight, but shortly after, his “friends” offered to pay KSh 10 million and provided him with the private jet he used.
A section of observers claimed that the president needed to have declared the favour he received from his Emirati friends immediately after the offer was extended to him.
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