TSC, JSS, TVET and Free-Day Secondary Schools Prioritized in Sh4 Trillion Ruto Budget
The Kenyan Parliament has approved a Sh4 trillion budget, highlighting President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration’s priorities.
During a late-night session, the National Assembly endorsed the 2024/2025 revenue budget estimates, setting the stage for the Appropriations Bill’s review next week.
Executive Allocations and Sectoral Highlights
Of the Sh4 trillion, the Executive received the largest share, with a cumulative allocation of Sh2.39 trillion, up from Sh2.1 trillion in the previous financial year.
Parliament was allocated Sh44.6 billion, while the Judiciary and Judicial Service Commission received Sh24.64 billion.
The budget also includes Sh1.21 trillion for Consolidated Fund Services and Sh400 billion for equitable distribution among the 47 counties.
Under the Executive:
- The Office of the President was allocated Sh5.1 billion, an increase from Sh4.3 billion.
- The Deputy President’s office received Sh4.8 billion, up from Sh3.73 billion.
- State House was allocated Sh9.5 billion.
- The Cabinet Affairs Office received Sh275 million.
- The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary saw a decrease, receiving Sh1.1 billion from last year’s Sh1.2 billion.
A report on the budget estimates indicated that the budget aims at economic recovery amidst prevailing macroeconomic challenges, with key interventions targeting lower living costs, job creation, enhanced food security, improved fiscal space, increased foreign exchange earnings, and inclusive growth.
Education Sector Dominates
A significant focus of the budget is the Education sector, aligning with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) manifesto. It received the largest share of the national budget with Sh654 billion. This includes:
- Sh351 billion for the Teachers Service Commission.
- Sh63.8 billion for free-day secondary schools.
- Sh30.6 billion for Junior Secondary School capitation.
- Sh55 billion for university and TVET student scholarships and loans.
Energy, Infrastructure, and ICT
The Energy, Infrastructure, and ICT sectors were allocated Sh462.8 billion, covering:
- Sh178 billion for roads.
- Sh42 billion for transport.
- Sh64.2 billion for energy and electrification.
- Sh18 billion for rural electrification, including Sh14.5 billion equally shared among constituencies to enhance power connectivity.
Health Sector Investment
The health sector also received significant attention, with an allocation of Sh126.8 billion. This includes:
- Sh2.5 billion for Community Health Promoters.
- Sh3.7 billion for medical interns’ absorption.
- Sh3.7 billion for the Linda Mama programme.
- Funds for equipping hospitals and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
- Allocation to the primary health care fund and emergency and critical illness fund.
Medical interns had earlier protested salary cuts and signed a return-to-work agreement after an eight-week strike, resulting in the allocation to support their employment.
Agriculture and Rural Development
The Agriculture and Rural Development sector was allocated Sh79.8 billion to support food security and reduce living costs. This includes:
- Sh10 billion for fertilizer programs.
- Sh12 billion for priority value chains like cotton, leather, dairy, and edible oils.
Parliamentary and Constituency Benefits
Parliamentary staff and employees hired by MPs were granted a 10 percent salary increase, marking their first raise since 2016.
The State Department of Parliamentary Affairs was allocated Sh458.2 million.
MPs also benefited from an increased National Government Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF) allocation from Sh40 billion to Sh62.9 billion, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) saw an increase by Sh500 million.
Anti-Corruption and Judicial Funding
The fight against corruption was supported with a Sh4 billion allocation to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), though down from the initially requested Sh6.3 billion.
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The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) received Sh6.3 billion, while the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was allocated Sh3.7 billion, primarily to settle pending legal fees.
Conclusion
The National Treasury received an additional Sh2 billion, setting the stage for Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u to deliver the budget address.
The 2024/2025 budget marks a significant increase in allocations across various sectors compared to previous years, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s economic and social systems.
TSC, JSS, TVET and Free-Day Secondary Schools Prioritized in Sh4 Trillion Ruto Budget.
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