Ruto signs Supplementary Appropriations Bill into law

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto on Monday signed the Supplementary Appropriations Bill into law, days after Members of Parliament (MPs) passed it on July 31, 2024.

The new law, according to a despatch from State House, Nairobi, safeguards key critical expenditures, including about Sh20 billion to support farmers and enhance production and productivity.

To support education reforms, the Supplementary Appropriations Act has allocated Sh120.7 billion, including confirmation of all Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, and Sh31.3 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

Further, the Act has allocated Sh16.2 billion to funding health sector reforms, and promoting Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

"Salary increases for security officers have also been taken care of, with the new law setting aside Sh3.5 billion for the enhancement of remuneration for officers serving in various agencies in line with the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms," adds the statement from State House.

Additionally, the new Act proposes a reduction in recurrent and development expenditure for the three arms of government, constitutional commissions and independent offices, on the backdrop of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024.

The total reduction for the National Government stands at Sh145.7 billion, consisting of Sh40 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh105 billion in development expenditure.

Out of the Sh145.7 billion, the budget for the Executive has been cut by Sh139.81 billion, while Parliament has lost Sh3.7 billion and the Judiciary Sh2.1 billion.

Budgets for State House and the Office of the Deputy President were cut by Sh6 billion, and National Treasury by Sh7 billion respectively.

Allocation to the Ministry of Health was reduced by Sh6.9 billion, while the budget for Road and Transport was cut by Sh17.3 billion.