Kenya will spend Sh4.002 trillion in the financial year 2024/25 starting this July after the National Assembly approved the budget estimates, which was revised as an effort to get an inclusive budget.
The development came on June 6, after the adoption of the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, following a general debate in the House which eventually saw it considered and approved by Committee of Supply, which operates similarly to a Committee of the Whole House on a bill, approving state expenditure on a programme-by-programme basis.
Apart from education sector, which accounts for the largest share of the national government budget at 34.8% amounting to Sh654 billion, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to receive an allocation of Sh351 billion for teacher resource management.
Free-day secondary school will get Sh63.8 billion, Junior Secondary School (JSS) Capitation Sh30.6 billion, and scholarships as well as loans for University and TVET students Sh55 billion.
“Members raised concerns about the school feeding programme and we have allocated Sh3.5 billion… we have recommended that TSC confirm JSS interns. Do not wait till January 2025. Confirm these interns as soon as possible,” chairperson, Budget and Appropriations Committee Ndindi Nyoro, said.
The Energy, Infrastructure and ICT sector has a total allocation of Sh462.8 billion shillings which includes allocation for roads at Sh178 billion, transport Sh42 billion and energy and electrification at Sh64.2 billion.
Under the energy sector, rural electrification, which includes the installation of new transformers and maximization of existing ones, has been allocated Sh18 billion, of which approximately Sh14.5 billion will be shared equally across all constituencies to enhance connectivity and access to power.
The Agriculture and Rural Development sector has been allocated Sh79.8 billion to support food security and lower the cost of living. This includes Sh10 billion for fertilizer programs and approximately Sh12 billion for various priority value chain, including cotton, leather, dairy, and edible oils, among other crops.
According to the MP of Tigania West John Mutunga (Tigania West) the amendments respond to the needs of the Kenyan economy.
“We are cutting down on imports. We are moving towards import substitution. I’m aware that the Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of ensuring we can produce our own edible oils,” he said.
The health sector has an allocation of Sh126.8 billion, of which 2.5 billion has been set aside for Community Health Promoters to support preventive healthcare and Sh3.7 billion for absorption of medical interns.
Others include Sh2.5 billion for the Linda mama programme and equipping of various hospitals and Kenya Medical Training Colleges across the country. This also includes an allocation to the recently established Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Funds.
Some Sh1.2 billion has been allocated for leather industry interventions such as the Kenya Leather Development Council, leather value chain promotion programme, as well as Towards Ending Drought Emergencies in Kenya project, and development of leather industrial park. The textile and apparel value chain has been revitalization projects, modernization of cotton cooperative ginneries, and cotton development subsidy programs.
The edible oils value chain has been allocated approximately Sh1 billion for the National Edible Oil Crops Promotion Project, coconut industry revitalization, and the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, which includes support for cashew nut, canola, and sunflower development. These interventions are designed to reduce over reliance on the importation of edible oils by encouraging local production and processing.
Additionally, approximately Sh350 million for cotton value chain development, cotton industry cost, quality, and availability of inputs.
The approval of the Budget Estimates comes just a week before this year’s budget speech by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u and forms basis for the 2024, Appropriation Bill which authorizes withdrawal, from the Consolidated Fund, of the amounts needed for expenditure approved in the estimates.
Lawmakers are set to consider the 2024, Appropriation Bill this week.
