Kitui Central Member of Parliament Makali Mulu has raised significant questions about the necessity of State House economic advisors, particularly in light of Kenya’s escalating public debt and the ongoing debate over government expenditure.
Speaking on the night of Wednesday, June 4, 2025, when he appeared on K24 TV’s The People’s Dialogue show, Mulu termed the appointing of economic advisors to the State House when the public service already boasts a wealth of expertise as redundancy.
The lawmaker argued that in every government ministry, there is a principal secretary who is an expert in a field related to the office he is serving.
“The question is, in every ministry, we have a principal secretary (PS), we have the directors, and we have the technical people. For example, take Treasury. In the treasury, we have the minister who is politically appointed, but we have a principal secretary who is a PhD holder in economics; we have directors under him who are all chief economists, and then we have the technical people. In such a case, do you need an advisor at State House advising the president on economic issues? Because basically, you have this pool of resources that can do the same. Why should you have an advisor when we have these people already permanent in the public service?” the lawmaker said.
He suggested that the number of the president’s advisors should be reduced to at least three to cut on budget.
Government spending
The MP’s call for a reevaluation of state house budgets reflects a growing demand for transparency and accountability in government spending.
Since assuming office, President William Ruto has assembled a diverse and strategically positioned team of advisors to guide his administration on various policy fronts.
These individuals bring a wealth of experience from academia, politics, security, and economic management, reflecting the administration’s focus on governance, security, constitutionalism, food security, and inclusive economic growth.
Ruto’s advisors
Professor Makau Mutua is among the latest entries to Ruto’s growing list of advisors, after he was recently appointed as Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs.
Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria also serves as a senior economic advisor in Ruto’s team based at State House.
Economist David Ndii serves as the Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors.
The list has been growing even after President Ruto, amid pressure mounted by Kenyan youth during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests, announced a list of austerity measures to cut down government spending.
Ruto promised to reduce the number of advisors in government by at least 50% with immediate effect.
