Schools Handed Huge Boost In Ksh4 Trillion 2024/25 Budget
This approval came after the adoption of the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, following a general debate in the House.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Members of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 6 approved the budget estimates for the financial year 2024/2025 with amendments. The estimates handed a major win to the education sector for the second year running.
This approval came after the adoption of the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, following a general debate in the House.
The estimates were subsequently considered and approved by the Committee of Supply, which operates similarly to a Committee of the Whole House on a bill, approving state expenditure on a programme-by-programme basis.
The Budget totalling Ksh4.002 trillion has key sectors receiving significant allocations including education which accounts for the largest share of the National Government budget at 34.8 percent amounting to Ksh654 billion.
High school students during an exam session. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY
This is an increase from the previous year's budget where Ksh630 billion was allocated to the education sector.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to receive an allocation of Ksh351 billion for teacher resource management.
Other areas in the sector with major allocations include free-day secondary school at Ksh63.8 billion; Junior Secondary School (JSS) Capitation at Ksh30.6 billion; and scholarships as well as loans for University and TVET students at Ksh55 billion.
In the 2023/24 budget, the capitation of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) was increased to Ksh25.5 billion from Ksh15 billion. At the same time, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)'s allocation doubled from Ksh15 billion to Ksh30 billion.
Also in the new estimates, the Energy, Infrastructure and ICT sector has a total allocation of Ksh462.8 billion shillings which includes allocation for roads at Ksh178 billion, transport at Ksh42 billion and energy and electrification at Ksh64.2 billion.
"Notably, under the energy sector, rural electrification, which includes the installation of new transformers and maximization of existing ones, has been allocated Ksh18 billion, of which approximately Ksh14.5 billion will be shared equally across all constituencies to enhance connectivity and access to power," Parliament said in a statement.
The Agriculture and Rural Development sector has been allocated Ksh79.8 billion to support food security and lower the cost of living.
This includes Ksh10 billion for fertilizer programs and approximately Ksh12 billion for various priority value chains, including cotton, leather, dairy, and edible oils, among other crops.
The health sector has been allocated Ksh126.8 billion, of which Ksh2.5 billion has been set aside for Community Health Promoters to support preventive healthcare and Ksh3.7 billion for the absorption of medical interns.
Other interventions include Ksh2.5 billion for the Linda Mama programme and equipping of various hospitals and KMTCS across the country. This also includes an allocation to the recently established Primary Healthcare Fund and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Funds.
Ksh1.2 billion has been allocated for leather industry interventions such as the Kenya Leather Development Council, the leather value chain promotion programme, the Towards Ending Drought Emergencies in Kenya project, and the development of a leather industrial park.
"The textile and apparel value chain has been revitalization projects, modernization of cotton cooperative ginneries, and cotton development subsidy programs," added the statement.
The edible oils value chain has been allocated approximately Ksh1 billion for the National Edible Oil Crops Promotion Project, coconut industry revitalization, and the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, which includes support for cashew nut, canola, and sunflower development. These interventions are designed to reduce overreliance on the importation of edible oils by encouraging local production and processing.
Additionally, approximately Ksh350 million for cotton value chain development, cotton industry cost, quality, and availability of inputs,
The approval of the Budget Estimates forms the basis for the 2024, Appropriation Bill which authorizes withdrawal, from the Consolidated Fund, of the amounts needed for expenditure approved in the estimates.
Lawmakers are set to consider the 2024, Appropriation Bill next week.
