Ksh20B Hustler Fund, Ksh15B Fertiliser: Ruto's Ksh60B Supplementary Budget

More than Ksh60 billion has been provided for pending bills by President William Ruto's 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, March 6 at State House, President Ruto stated that the move will ensure uninterrupted delivery of services to the people.

The Bill gives authority for the issuance of Ksh200.7 billion out of the Consolidated Fund and applies it towards the supply granted for the service of the year ending this June.

President William Ruto signing the Supplementary Budget on March 6, 2023. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

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 Ksh6 billion, school feeding under National Council for Nomadic Education Ksh2 billion, drought mitigation Ksh10 billion, fertiliser subsidy Ksh15 billion and Ksh20 billion for the Hustler Fund.

The President further noted that 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 stated, as revealed by State House in a statement.

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 Ksh143.7 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 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in initial estimates to 5.7 per cent of GDP.

President William Ruto signing the Supplementary Budget on March 6, 2023. /STATE HOUSE KENYA