The Chinese government has announced a Ksh8.3 billion investment in a Centre for Disease Control (CDC) set to be established in the country.
A statement released by the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) on Thursday, March 19, announced that the Chinese government had committed to building the structure where the CDC initiative shall be housed.
"As part of its support towards the establishment of the Africa CDC in Kenya, the Chinese government offered to put up a twenty-one story office building at an estimated cost of Ksh8.3 billion.
"Once complete, Africa CDC will provide job opportunities to Kenyans in technical, administrative and support functions," PSCU announced.
According to PSCU, the Chinese government made the declaration after a request by the African Union and the World Health Organization for Kenya to host the centre that will serve the entire continent.
"The Africa CDC will position Kenya as a regional and continental hub in medical research and disease control and give the country a head-start in combating disease outbreaks like the current Coronavirus pandemic," PSCU announced.
State House further announced that the Cabinet directed security agencies to crack down on businesses exploiting Kenyans after the Coronavirus outbreak.
"As part of concerted efforts by the government to protect Kenyans from exploitation by wayward traders, the Cabinet directed security and consumer protection agencies to intensify the ongoing crackdown on businesses that are taking advantage of the Coronavirus outbreak to hoard and/or hike commodity prices," the statement read.
The Cabinet also received and discussed a report from the National Treasury on the projected impact of Coronavirus pandemic to the economy and resolved to align budgetary allocations and other fiscal considerations accordingly.
The meeting discussed reforms at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund and directed Treasury CS Ukur Yattani to wind up the Strategic Food Reserve Fund within six months.
This, PSCU announced, is in accordance with section 24(9) of the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and regulation 209 of the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations 2015.
Cabinet Secretaries for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, and National Treasury and Planning were directed to establish a National Food Reserve system which will procure receipts through competitive commercial processes using the Warehouse Receipt System so as to avoid market distortions.
