National Treasury CS Henry Rotich outlined that two main sectors diversified under devolution will benefit from the 2017/2018 Budget allocation. The Cabinet Secretary noted the importance of the Agriculture Sector, “The government recognizes without a strong vibrant Agricultural sector, a critical component of our industrialization strategy namely Agro-processing, will not be achieved.” He said the Jubilee government has been ensuring there are measures to cushion the agriculture sector. “To support irrigation projects countrywide, Kshs 6.3 billion has been allocated,” he said adding that Kshs 300 million has been set aside for community-based irrigation projects.
CS Rotich said that farmers will have access to fertilizer at affordable rates, “The government has distributed more than half a million tonnes of subsidized fertilizers to the farmers since 2013,” he said,”I have set aside Kshs 4.1 billion to cater for subsidized fertilizer.” With mechanisation of the sector vital, the government has set aside Kshs 100 million to cater for the same, while Kshs 100 million has been set aside for the revival of the pyrethrum sector.
The Education sector was a main target of improvement for the government, with the inception of digital learning, “Kshs 13.4 billion has been allocated for deployment of digital services in schools,” said CS Rotich “Kshs 4 billion has been set aside towards examination waiver for students sitting for national examinations this financial year,” he said. Kshs 4 billion has been allocated to primary education, and Kshs 33 billion for free secondary education, while Kshs 83.8 billion has been allocated to University education.
