The government has set aside Kes18.7 billion for the hiring of Junior Secondary School teachers in permanent and pensionable terms. The fate of hundreds of JSS teachers across the country appeared unclear following the collapse of the Finance Bill 2024, which left the Treasury grappling with Kes344 billion budget hole.

This move to set the stage for the absorption of JSS teachers follows the signing into law of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill into law by President William Ruto on Monday.

Also under education, a total of Kes30.7 billion has been set aside for the capitation of JSS students, including those transitioning to grade nine.

Additionally, a total of Kes23 billion will go to finance universities' differentiated unit cost model even as Kes31.3 goes to extend loans and scholarships to tertiary school learners under the Higher Education Loans Board.

In the latest development, the government has also retained Kes3.7 billion in the budget for the continued rollout of the medical internship program. A total of Kes4.5 billion will go into offering allowances and buying equipment for community health volunteers even as Kes4 billion goes into the primary healthcare fund.

Earlier this year, services in public hospitals paralyzed for over two months as doctors downed their tools demanding immediate posting of medical doctor interns.s

In response to a persistent push by the public to cut spending, the National Government has unveiled an expenditure reduction amounting to Kes145.7 billion, consisting of Kes40 billion for recurrent expenditure and Kes105 billion in development expenditure.

Read also: CBK raises key rate 50 points to curb sticky inflation

Expenditure cuts

This expenditure reduction is set to impact the three arms of government, constitutional commissions as well as independent offices.

A despatch from the State House noted that out of the KSh145.7 billion budget cut, the Executive's spending will be reduced by Kes139.81 billion. Parliament will see its budget contract by Kes3.7 billion while the Judiciary was hit by Kes2.1 billion in spending cuts.

What's more, budgets for State House and the Office of the Deputy President were axed by Kes6 billion, while that of the National Treasury was trimmed by Kes7 billion.

Another ministry that is set to experience a significant hit is Health, whose spending plan for the FY2024/25 will be less by  Kes6.9 billion, even as Road and Transport suffers Kes17.3 billion reduction in budget.

Allocation to the Ministry of Health was reduced by KSh6.9 billion, while the budget for Road and Transport by KSh17.3 billion.

"The Bill has also set aside Kes3.5 billion towards the enhancement of remuneration for the officers serving in various security organs in line with the recommendations of the Report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms," the Bill stated in part.

[email protected]