The biggest allocation in this year’s Budget is to infrastructure, which received Sh268.1 billion for various projects including roads, energy, rail, and ports. The overall budget for the Ministry of Roads is Sh123.6 billion, up from Sh104.3 billion in the 2011/2012 financial year.
The Ministry of Energy has been allocated Sh79.9 billion, up from Sh57.5 billion in the previous budget. The Education sector, also a big spender, was given an additional Sh19.2 billion pushing its envelope this financial year to Sh233.1 billion. Some Sh118.7 billion of this cash is to be spent on salaries for teachers, including recruitment of additional 10,000 teachers.
The Government also plans to spend Sh8.1 billion from this kitty for development of infrastructure and public facilities in public universities, Sh480 million to buy computers for schools, Sh1.6 billion to hire pre-unit teachers, and Sh1.9 billion on classrooms and physical facilities in primary and secondary schools.
Treasury has allocated Sh8.3 billion for the Free Primary Education programme, and Sh19.7 billion for free secondary education. The Government has also given Parliament Sh17 billion, and the Judiciary Sh15.4 billion for implementation of the new Constitution.
Treasury has allocated Sh148 billion for devolution and setting up of county governments, in addition to Sh3 billion for constitutional reforms. This includes provision for setting up county offices where necessary.
The Government has allocated Sh17.5 billion to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for conducting the biggest polls exercise since independence.
The budget allocation for national security has been enhanced from Sh78 billion in 2011/2012 budget to Sh83.5 billion in 2012/2013.
The Ministry of Internal Security has been allocated Sh65.9 billion, which includes Sh1.4 billon for purchase of motor vehicles to enhance police response and patrols, and Sh2.5 billion for recruitment of 3,500 police officers.
The National Police Service Commission and Independent Police Oversight Authority will get Sh300 million. The Health Ministry has received Sh85 billion, an increase of Sh12.3 billon from the previous financial year, to recruit an additional 5,200 health workers, allowances, and construction of more health facilities.
Urban commuter railway
In his speech, Githae warned that while there are positive economic prospects this year, significant risks remain. These include trouble in the European Union and a sluggish world economy.
On the domestic front, there is a possibility that inflation and a volatile shilling could rear their ugly heads again.
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