The National Treasury on Thursday presented the fifth and last budget for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first term in office in an event presided over by Finance Cabinet Secretary (CS) Henry Rotich in Parliament.
CS Rotich announced that from 2018, the Government will start providing a monthly stipend and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover for persons above 70 years of age.
Rotich also indicated that the Jubilee administration had allocated the Youth Enterprise Fund Sh600 Million to help young people start up businesses thus reduce unemployment in the country.
The youth have also been allocated Sh18.3 Billion as part of the youth empowerment program for mentorship and leadership training.
The Government further promised to pay all interns attached to government institutions Sh 25,000 per month to mentor and give them experience required in the job market.
The CS also indicated that Sh300 Million had been set aside to help with the rehabilitation of street families.
Rotich reiterated the Government's commitment to ensuring that Kenya has zero maternal deaths by allocating Sh9 Billion to the maternal health program. The money will be used to cater for women delivering in public hospitals.
He also stated that Kenyatta National Hospital would be allocated Sh700 Million to cater for Cancer Services in the hospital.
This year’s budget will see the country spend Sh2.6 Trillion, the largest ever spending plan in Kenya's history, that will be financed using taxes and borrowing.
