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The Budget and Appropriations Committee has begun receiving submissions from Chairpersons from different Departmental Committees, on their Supplementary II Estimates for Financial Year 2023/24 and Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/25.
In his opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), noted that we are working with a lean budget that has been reduced by Kshs. 270 billion, from the initial Kshs. 4.1 trillion shillings in the Budget Policy Statement.
βWe are now having a deficit of around Kshs. 540 billion, which is basically around 2.9 percent deficit to GDP ratio. At 2.9 percent deficit, our economy becomes one of the best in terms of deficit in the region. At the same time, we appropriated about Kshs. 1.2 trillion in CFS, most of which around Kshs. 1 trillion is going into payments of interest rates.β Briefed Hon. Nyoro.
The Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee that was represented by the Vice-Chair Hon. Major Bashir Abdullaih (Mandera North), called on the Committee to consider allocating the funds for the State Departments for Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Affairs and East African Community, as well as the National Intelligence Service, as approved.
Further, Hon. Bashir proposed that the Kshs. 5.32 billion development allocation under the modernization programme for the Ministry of Defence be moved to the recurrent expenditure for proper alignment, totaling the allocation to Kshs. 9.32 billion.
On the Supplementary Estimates II for FY 2023/24, Hon. Bashir tabled various recommendations on allocation of funds to various MDAs under its purview.
The Committee also heard from the Chairperson, Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee, Hon. David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), who appealed for additional funding to the proposed estimates, for the FY 2024/25 budgetary allocation, to offer further financial support to the projects being undertaken by the various State Departments.
The additional funds are estimated at Kshs. 907.9 million to the State department for Environment and Climate Change; Kshs. 815 million to the State Department for Forestry and Kshs. 666.5 million to the State Department for Mining.
On the Supplementary Estimates II, Hon. Gikaria proposed an increment in recurrent expenditure by Kshs. 388.9 million and a reduction in development expenditure by Kshs. 143.7 million to the State Department for Environment and Climate Change; reduction of recurrent and development expenditure by Kshs. 4 million and Kshs. 949 million respectfully, to the State Department for Forestry and a reduction in recurrent and development expenditure by Kshs. 170 million and Kshs. 800 million respectfully, to the State Department for Mining.
The Chairperson, Committee on Social Protection, Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), briefed Members on plans to complete construction of three foster care centers at a cost of Kshs. 500 million, in Isiolo, Murang’a and Nanyuki, which are 80% complete.
She further stated that there are plans to construct more centers across the country, at an estimated cost of Kshs 2.1 billion, which will enable the Child Welfare Society of Kenya to provide safe custody for children in need of special protection.
On the implementation of the sanitary towels program, Hon. Ng’ang’a submitted that upon interrogation and consultation with Ministry officials and the leadership of the 47 Woman MPs, the committee was of the opinion that the allocation of Kshs. 940 million for the Sanitary Towels Program for FY 2024/25 be moved to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), an idea that was fully supported by Members.
On the Supplementary Estimates II, the Thika Town Legislator proposed reallocation of funds to different programmes through reduction or additional funding, based on the scope of the programme.
The Committee shall be meeting more Committee Chairpersons tomorrow.