For the first time, counties will bag Ksh 400.1 billion in the next financial year
NG-CDF gets additional allocation of Ksh 30 million making maximum of Ksh 220 million
The Budget and Appropriations Committee has increased budget for National Government Constituency Development Fund [NG-CDF] by Sh 30 million, which translates to between Sh180 million to Sh 220 million in the next fiscal year
Addressing Journalists on Wednesday 29th May after two weeks of receiving budget estimates from state departments, committee’s chair, Ndindi Nyoro disclosed that the fund has been doing significantly well in their respective constituencies thus MPs will be getting the above mentioned figure starting from next financial year
Additionally, Kiharu legislator flanked by other committee members including Kitui Central MP Dr David Makali approved Sh 3 billion to return school feeding programme in all public primary schools to enhance enrolment and address malnutrition in some regions of the country
Makali shot a warning message to school heads attempting to defraud parents by soliciting some cash for the programme since they have worked tirelessly and burnt midnight oil to stand for the welfare of the pupils
The committee also revealed that they have reduced Kenya’s budget by Sh273 billion from Sh 4.1 trillion which was estimated for FY 2024/25 to Sh 3.93 trillion
Mr Nyoro said, they did so deliberately, in order to relief taxpayers from heavy burden of taxes.
Junior Secondary School Teachers
The committee, also approved a whopping allocation of Sh 8.3 billion sought by Ministry of Education and Teachers Service Commission through National Assembly Committee on Education to convert all 26,000 JSS interns into permanent and pensionable terms starting from July, 2024.
Another Sh4.4 billion was also allocated to recruit other 20,000 interns to teach in Junior Secondary School levels
And after yesterday’s mediation team where Kitui MP participated fully about the division of revenue sharing formula, counties will for the first time receive over Ksh.400 billion in equitable share of revenue in the 2024/2025 financial year.
Nyoro and Mulu said the amount was arrived at after an intense mediation with the Senate led by Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi and Council of Governors Chair Ann Waiguru
“The equitable share to counties has gone up to historic levels, and will be Ksh.400.1 billion in the financial year 2024/2025,” said the Kiharu lawmaker
However, committee cracked jokes stating that all state departments were seeking additional allocation apart from the Office of the President which sought to reduce it’s budget by undisclosed amount in order to cater school feeding programme