President William Ruto has signed a Sh200.7billion Supplementary Budget including Sh60billion to clear pending bills owed to government suppliers and contractors some of whom have since been auctioned or deceased.
During the event held at State House, the President assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2023) meant to enhance public service delivery to help contain pending bills by the government in its ambitious plan to tackle the ailing issue in the country.
“We have provided more than Sh60 Billion in the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2023) that will ensure uninterrupted delivery of services to the people,” part of the statement by President Ruto read.
The Bill authorises the issuance of Sh200.7billion out of the Consolidated Fund and applies it towards the supply granted for the service of the year ending in June.
The bill further includes provisions for capitation for students who have so far joined junior secondary school (JSS), recruitment of additional teachers by teachers service commission (TSC), improvement of school infrastructure and additional provisions for school feeding.
The bill further entails the recruitment of additional teachers which will see the TSC absorb Sh6billion, school feeding under the National Council for Nomadic Education Sh2 billion, drought mitigation Sh10 billion and capitation of fertiliser subsidy capped at Sh15 billion.
President Ruto insisted that the country’s food security requires long-term and sustainable solutions hence the increased allocations to help handle the dire situation brought about by drought.
“That is why the supplementary estimates have funded a wide range of interventions such as the expansion of irrigation systems,” noted Ruto.
According to the President, the Bill has reduced the supply by Sh143.7billion as a result of several Implications meant to play a vital role in economic performance growth and stimulation.
President Ruto has signaled government’s commitment to debt reduction by decreasing the fiscal deficit from 6.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in initial estimates to 5.7 percent of GDP through expenditure rationalisation.
Among those who attended the event included Attorney General Justin Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah and the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee serving as Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro in equal measures.
