Children with laptops during the launch of the multi-media training hub at the Amref Dagoretti Child Development and Training Centre in Nairobi in March. Photo/FILE
By Herbling David, hdavid@ke.nationmedia.com
IN SUMMARY
President Kenyatta’s pet laptops for Standard One pupils plan tops the list of big spenders, which also includes large-scale irrigation schemes, free maternal health services and geothermal power generation.
Jubilee’s signature projects will take in more than half of the Sh479.7 billion development expenditure, which also includes continuation of Kibaki-era initiatives such as the economic stimulus programme.
Mr Kenyatta is banking on these signature projects to achieve a 5.8 per cent economic growth this year up from last year’s 4.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent in 2012.
SHARE THIS STORY
0
inShare
President Uhuru Kenyatta has used his inaugural Sh1.7 trillion budget to frame his economic legacy by pumping billions of shillings into flagship projects meant to deliver his pre-election promises and put Kenya on the path to realising the desired double-digit growth.
Mr Kenyatta’s pet laptops for Standard One pupils plan tops the list of big spenders, which also includes large-scale irrigation schemes, free maternal health services and geothermal power generation, according to the budget estimates tabled in Parliament on Wednesday night.
Treasury secretary Henry Rotich said spending big on the Jubilee government’s mega programmes should give the economy the impetus that is needed to realise the target 6.1 per cent growth next year.
“We have identified factors that are holding our growth, and that is why we are determined to bring down the cost of power, contain high food prices, reduce cost of moving goods, revamp security and take care of the vulnerable to realise our targets,” Mr Rotich said in an interview.
Mr Rotich said the Jubilee government would stay focused on energy, food security, railway and national security to boost Kenya’s competitiveness, attract investors and achieve double-digit growth.
“This level of growth will be supported by increased production in agriculture, continued investment in infrastructure projects and expansion of activities in other sectors of the economy,” the budget summary paper says.
This is the first spending plan to be fully prepared by the Kenyatta administration, and the president appears to have seized the opportunity to put his mark on Kenya’s development path with signature projects.
The list of priority programmes that have been earmarked for big spending includes three new airports in Mandera, Malindi and Suneka (in Kisii), the leasing of medical equipment, building of commuter railway to Nairobi’s main airport, a national digital register and social safety nets dubbed ‘Inua Jamii.’
Mr Kenyatta is banking on these signature projects to achieve a 5.8 per cent economic growth this year up from last year’s 4.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent in 2012.
READ: 740,000 new jobs put the economy on recovery path
The 2014/15 budget includes Sh1.1 trillion set aside for the national government, consolidated fund services (Sh362.5 billion), county governments allocation (Sh226.7 billion), Parliament (Sh19.5 billion) and the Judiciary Sh18.5 billion.
Jubilee’s signature projects will take in more than half of the Sh479.7 billion development expenditure, which also includes continuation of Kibaki-era initiatives such as the economic stimulus programme.
Execution of Jubilee government’s manifesto has marginally pushed Kenya’s development expenditure up to 27 per cent of the budget from this year’s 26 per cent, marking the beginning of the planned shift from heavy spending on salaries and wages.
At 27 per cent of the budget, Mr Kenyatta’s development spending plan is still in breach of the Public Finance Management Act that requires at least a third or 30 per cent of the national budget to be spent on development.
Mr Kenyatta’s pet laptop project has been allocated Sh17.4 billion to be used in buying some 1.2 million devices for Standard One pupils in public schools.
No comments:
Post a Comment