Political activist Kasmuel McOure has challenged former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u over his recent claims that President William Ruto had "overrun the Treasury." McOure insists Ndung’u cannot distance himself from the Finance Bill 2024, which he says Ndung’u was central to as the chief architect.
In a statement posted on his X account on July 30, 2026, McOure emphasized that Ndung’u remained in office throughout the debate and never publicly opposed the tax proposals that led to widespread protests, particularly among the youth.
Key points from McOure's statement include:
- Ndung’u was the main sponsor of the Finance Bill 2024, which triggered Gen Z-led demonstrations nationwide.
- Despite growing public anger, Ndung’u neither resigned nor voiced opposition while serving as Treasury CS.
- The Bill's backlash eventually led President Ruto to withdraw it and dissolve his Cabinet.
McOure also contrasted the 2024 Finance Bill with subsequent Finance Bills of 2025 and 2026, introduced under Treasury CS John Mbadi, noting that these later bills faced significantly less resistance due to a more cautious fiscal approach.
Earlier, during the 2024/25 Budget presentation in Parliament on June 13, 2024, Ndung’u defended the government's need to increase revenue, citing rising expenditure demands that required either higher taxes or more borrowing. He acknowledged challenges in balancing spending with fiscal sustainability.
McOure concluded by asserting that public officials should be evaluated based on their actions while in office rather than statements made after leaving government.
