The Kenyan Government has increased its budget for education and subsidised fertilisers and allocated additional funds for various agricultural initiatives. In a Supplementary Appropriation (No.3) Bill, recently assented to by President William Ruto.
KES 65 billion has been added to the education budget. With an allocation of KES 5.4 billion made to Junior Secondary Schools for capitation, and KES 3.4 billion dedicated to improving infrastructure in educational institutions.
In a move to address the issue of non-school-going children in Nairobi, KES 1 billion has been allocated to the City County. The funds will be used to construct additional classrooms across all 17 constituencies.
“We want all children to go to school, Nairobi has a big number of school-going children who are not accessing education,” said the Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Ndindi Nyoro.
A significant portion of the added budget, KES 8.25 Billion, has been earmarked for the purchase of fertilizers. To ensure stability in maize prices and address post-harvest challenges KES 2.1 Billion will be dedicated to acquiring dryers, bulk storage facilities, and purchasing excess maize from farmers at a rate of KES 4,000 per 90-kilogramme bag.
The sugar sector, will receive KES 1.7 billion allocated for ongoing sugar reforms including settling farmers’ arrears and improving sucrose levels.
The coffee sector, has been allocated KES 4 billion, with the dairy industry receiving KES 400 million to be given to the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) to address excess milk supplies and prevent farmers from incurring losses.
KES 145 billion has also been set aside for the repayment of interests on domestic and foreign loans.
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