Members of the National Assembly have approved the budget estimates for the financial year 2024/2025 with amendments.
This approval came after the adoption of the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, following a general debate in the House.
The Budget totalling Kshs 4.002 trillion has key sectors receiving significant allocations including education which accounts for the largest share of the National Government budget at 34.8% amounting to Kshs 654 billion. The Teachers Service Commission is set to receive an allocation of Kshs. 351 billion for teacher resource management.
Other areas in the sector with major allocations include free-day secondary school at Kshs 63.8 bilion; Junior Secondary School Capitation at Kshs. 30.6 billion; and scholarships as well as loans for University and TVET students at Kshs. 55 billion.
The Energy, Infrastructure and ICT sector has a total allocation of Kshs 462.8 billion shillings which includes allocation for roads at Kshs. 178 billion, transport Kshs. 42 billion and energy and electrification at Kshs. 64.2 billion.
Notably, under the energy sector, rural electrification, which includes the installation of new transformers and maximization of existing ones, has been allocated Kshs 18 billion, of which approximately Kshs 14.5 billion will be shared equally across all constituencies to enhance connectivity and access to power.
The Agriculture and Rural Development sector has been allocated Kshs. 79.8 billion to support food security and lower the cost of living. This includes Kshs. 10 billion for fertilizer programs and approximately Kshs.12 billion for various priority value chain, including cotton, leather, dairy, and edible oils, among other crops.
Kshs 1.2 billion has been allocated for leather industry interventions such as the Kenya Leather Development Council, leather value chain promotion programme, 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 Kshs 1 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 Kshs 350 million has been set aside for cotton value chain development, cotton industry cost, quality, and availability of inputs,
The health sector has an allocation of Kshs. 126.8 billion, of which 2.5 billion has been set aside for Community Health Promoters to support preventive healthcare and Kshs. 3.7 billion for absorption of medical interns.
Other interventions include Kshs 2.5 billion for the Linda mama programme and equipping of various hospitals and KMTCS across the country. This also includes an allocation to the recently established Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Funds.
The approval of the Budget Estimates forms basis for the 2024, Appropriation Bill which authorizes withdrawal, from the Consolidated Fund, of the amounts needed for expenditure approved in the estimates.
Members of Parliament are set to consider the 2024, Appropriation Bill next week.
