Uhuru's swearing in ceremony suffers major setback

juma chrispinus

November 23, 2017 4:45 PM

The ceremony is on Tuesday next week.

The team working on the swearing-in ceremony for President Uhuru Kenyatta has been hit by a shortage of cash, in an event whose expenditures were approximated at Sh300 million.

Unconfined reports on Thursday – four days to the awaited day – revealed that the team was struggling to get funds from the CS Henry Rotich controlled National Treasury.

"As of yesterday evening, they were struggling and Treasury does not want to hear about money,” Government spokesperson Mr Eric Kiraithe said on Thursday, shortly after a press briefing on the ongoing preparations as quoted by the Star.

He added: "Officers in charge of protocol and committee on Assumption of the Office of President are really crying."

Mr Kiraithe divulged that the government has in the recent past failed to effectively collect revenues, thanks to the prolonged electioneering period which has prolonged for almost a year.

"The committee is still negotiating on the budget with Treasury. The inauguration will be a freaky affair and the committee is struggling to do everything which would enable the event definitely meet the basic standard.

"I know by today all the figures will be available. When a head of state or friends of Kenya are invited, it is expenditure in itself. Treasury is employing a cost-cutting measure which will affect things like entertainment," Mr Kiraithe said.

The Assumption of Office Committee preparing for the swearing in of Uhuru Kenyatta as President on Monday embarked on its work hours after the Supreme Court upheld his re-election.

Earlier, the committee chaired by Secretary to the Cabinet Joseph Kinyua had almost finished the preparations, but was forced to shelve the plans when the Supreme Court nullified Uhuru’s victory.

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