By Dorothy Musyoka
In a significant move to bolster nation’s critical sectors,President William Ruto has assented to the Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.39 of 2024) into the law at State House,Nairobi.
The newly enacted law,sponsored by Hon.Ndindi Nyoro,Chairperson of the Budget& Appropriations Committee,introduces substantial fiscal adjustments to align planned expenditures with the revised fiscal framework.
“The Supplementary Appropriation Bill makes available more resources for agriculture, education and healthcare. It further anchors our Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the funding of medical internship, UHC workers on contract and Community Health Promoters. The Bill also supports the hiring of Junior School interns on permanent terms and the higher education new financing model,” stated President Ruto.
The Supplementary Appropriation Act reduces Ksh. 145.7 billion in recurrent and development expenditures across the three arms of government, constitutional commissions, and independent offices.
“The total reduction for the National Government is Ksh.145.7 billion consisting of Ksh.40 billion for the recurrent expenditure and Ksh.105 billion for the development expenditure,” explained the national assembly.
This includes a Ksh.139.81 billion reduction for the Executive, Ksh. 3.7 reduction for parliament, and Ksh.2.1 billion for the Judiciary.
According to the Act, the agriculture sector will receive a Ksh.20 billion boost for fertilizer subsidies, waive coffee farmers debt, support dairy farmers, purchase milk coolers and to support sugar farmers.
In education sector, Ksh. 18.7 billion has been set aside for the confirmation of Junior Secondary School(JSS) interns to permanent terms, Ksh. 30.7 billion for JSS student capitation, Ksh.23 billion for universities for the Differentiated Unit Cost Funding Model, Ksh. 31.3 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board for scholarships and loans and Ksh. 17 billion to the University Funding Board for scholarships to university students.
Additionally an allocation of Ksh. 3.7 billion has been set for the health sector for the medical internship program, Ksh. 4 billion for the primary healthcare fund, Ksh. 8.5 billion contracted UHC healthcare workers and community health volunteers.
In efforts to improve on security, the Supplementary Appropriation Act has allocated Ksh.3.5 billion towards enhancing remuneration for officers serving in various security organs aligned with the recommendations of the Report of the National Taskforce on police reforms to promote dignity and living standards of the officers in the security sector.
This comes after the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 which caused a revenue shortfall prompting the need to realign planned expenditures to the revised fiscal framework.