Economists welcome Henry Rotich’s pro-poor budget

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich (left) with CS Devolution Mwangi Kiunjuri and Majority Leader Aden Duale at Parliament Buildings to present 2017/2018 Budget. [Moses Omusula, Standard]

Economists have welcomed the Government’s plan to give a monthly stipend and free medical cover to people aged over 70 from January 2018.

The senior citizens will receive about Sh2,000 a month in what is expected to cost about Sh9.7 billion. Institute of Economic Affairs—Kenya Chief Executive Kwame Owino said it is estimated that about a million Kenyans are aged over 70 as per 2009 census figures.