A plan by the State to hire two aircraft for Deputy President William Ruto has sparked outrage with Kenyans on social media amid severe austerity measures in government.
The Office of the Deputy President on Tuesday floated a tender inviting bidders to supply a helicopter with special features and a fixed-wing aircraft.
"The government of Kenya through the Office of the Deputy President invites tenders for air charter services (namely) helicopter (and) fixed wing aircraft," said the DP's office in the tender notice posted in local dailies.
The helicopters will be for the Deputy President's official travel, the notice said.
BETTER OPTION
But social media users said the better option was leasing from government agencies like the military.
"(The Deputy President) Ruto should be transported by the KDF (Kenya Defence Forces). Why waste all that money? Give the budget to the military," said social media user by the name manasses20201.
Several other State agencies like Kenya Power, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco), Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) are said to own such aircraft.
The government recently announced spending cuts that saw the Treasury shave off Sh34.33 billion from the development budget.
'COST CUTTING'
"So much for government cost-cutting," said social media user going by the name Miritini.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 21 signed into law the Finance Act 2018, which comes with several new consumer taxes and levies, including the eight per cent VAT on fuel products aimed at growing government revenue and cut budget deficit.
