KENYA'S NAIROBI, January 5 - Following persistent accusations that the Sh5 billion Hustler Fund is operating unlawfully, President William Ruto has defended the fund's constitutionality.
According to the Head of State, his government used Article 223 of the Constitution to authorize the budget that is being used to distribute the fund that was established in late 2017.
"We created regulations, engaged the public, and eventually, Parliament approved it. Nothing in the Hustler Fund is illegal", he said during a Wednesday night joint TV media appearance.
The President responded to accusations that the Kenya Kwanza government had improperly established the Hustler Fund with funds not authorized by the National Assembly by claiming that his government had used the constitution because Parliament had not yet begun its formal sessions.
The president corrected an earlier interview he gave to Swahili news bulletins at 7 p.m. that stated Sh 21 billion had been borrowed to Sh12.5 billion by Wednesday night.
The national government may spend money that has not been appropriated by Parliament, according to Article 223 of the constitution, however the expenditure cannot be greater than 10% of the funds that have been appropriated.
If there is a need for spending for a purpose for which no money has been appropriated by the National Assembly, the administration may also spend under Article 223.
A group of Azimio lawmakers claimed the fund was illegal because Parliament had not allocated it.
Content created and supplied by: Vincentvinshaz (via Opera News )
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