The chairperson parliamentary budget and appropriation committee Ndindi Nyoro has moved to assure the public that the government will still implement the crucial programs which had been factored in the 2024/25 financial year budget despite the withdrawal of the finance bill.
Ndindi said the committee will review the budget to ensure the projects are factored despite reduced revenue adding that other programs will be restructured.
He said the review will have the budget slashed by Sh177 billion but gave an assurance that the government will still implement its agenda. He pointed out the fertiliser subsidy, coffee cherry advance, and employment of junior secondary school teachers as some of the key programs that they are keen to ensure they are not affected by the budget cut.
Local students
Speaking at his backyard in Kiharu when he issued our bursary cheques to the local students, Ndindi the government will work with the available resources to drive the development agenda in the country. “The withdrawal of the finance bill will see a reduction of the revenue collected but we are going to work with the resources that are available,” remarked Ndindi.
He highlighted the Sh10 billion that had been set aside to provide subsidized fertilisers to farmers that he said will still be implemented.
The fertiliser will be provided to both maize farmers and cash crop growers such as tea and coffee growers to boost their harvest while cutting their cost of production.
Also, the Sh1.5 billion that was to be allocated to stabilize milk prices will be retained and the money will go towards New KCC. This subsidy program will ensure all milk farmers do not receive any less than Sh50 per litre of milk sold.
In the coffee sector, the chairperson said Sh2 billion will be injected to help waive the debts accrued by the cooperative societies.
He pointed out that the government has initiated the process of scrutinising the Sh8.6 billion debt which is threatening to cripple the sector.
He added that another Sh2 billion will be added to the Coffee Cherry Fund that will increase the kitty to Sh6.8 billion. “The government started a minimum guaranteed returns program through the fund to ensure farmers earn a minimum of Sh80 per kilogram of coffee delivered to cushion them from fluctuating prices,” he added.
