More than Ksh.60 Billion has been provided for pending bills by the Government in its ambitious plan to tackle the sticky issue in the country.

Speaking when he assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2023) on Monday at State House, President William Ruto said the move will ensure uninterrupted delivery of services to the people.

The Bill gives authority for the issuance of Ksh.200.7 Billion out of the Consolidated Fund and apply it towards the supply granted for the service of the year ending this June.

It includes provisions for capitation for students entering junior secondary school, recruitment of additional teachers and improvement of school infrastructure as well as additional provisions for school feeding.

According to the Bill, the recruitment of additional teachers will absorb Ksh.6 Billion, school feeding under National Council for Nomadic Education Ksh.2 billion, drought mitigation Ksh.10 Billion and fertilizer subsidy Ksh.15 Billion. 

The President said the country’s food security requires long-term and sustainable solutions.

“That is why the supplementary estimates have funded a wide range of interventions such as the expansion of irrigation systems,” he said.

Present in the ceremony were Attorney General Justin Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who is also the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The President noted that the Bill has reduced the supply by Ksh.143.7 Billion to the various votes, which will play a critical role in stimulating economic performance.

In what signals the Government’s commitment to debt reduction through expenditure rationalisation, the fiscal deficit has decreased from 6.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in initial estimates to 5.7 percent of GDP.