NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto’s chief economic adviser, David Ndii, has defended the President against criticism over his children’s education abroad, arguing that public officials should not be expected to lower their families’ standard of living simply because they serve in government.
Ndii was responding to a post by social media activist Kibet Bull, who contrasted the government’s education capitation for public school learners with what he claimed was the cost of educating the President’s children overseas.
Kibet Bull wrote: “1.2M capitation for his kids vs KSh95 capitation for taxpayers’ kids.”
In a response on X, Ndii dismissed the criticism, saying he had paid millions of shillings in school fees for his own children before joining government.
“I was paying Sh2m+ per year in Braeburn long before I joined government, and President Ruto the chicken farmer is way wealthier than I am. If these are the populist sacrifices you demand of public officials, then make it law so that those of us who won’t suffer fools can leave,” Ndii said.
The exchange followed renewed online debate after one of President Ruto’s daughters graduated from a university in the United Kingdom, prompting criticism from some social media users who questioned the contrast between the President’s family’s educational choices and the government’s challenges in funding public education.
Ndii argued that wealth accumulated before entering public office should not become grounds for restricting where public officials educate their children.
He suggested that if Kenyans want such limitations imposed on state officers, they should be enacted through legislation rather than through public pressure.
The economist, who chairs the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, has frequently defended government policies and President Ruto’s administration on social media, often engaging directly with critics on economic and governance issues.