The National Assembly has cut Treasury’s Sh80 billion supplementary budget by Sh30 billion.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved Sh50.6 billion from the initial Sh80 billion presented by Acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.
In effect, key President Uhuru Kenyatta’s flagship projects, including the Big Four agenda, will be hit hard.
For instance, a request for Sh886 million for Konza ICT connectivity has been rejected.
Treasury’s request for Sh2.1 billion to fund the Northern Collector Water project in Murang’a was also turned down.
Treasury Acting CS Ukur Yatani/ COURTESY
In addition, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure had requested for Sh2.3 billion for James Gichuru- JKIA Expressway project.
The Budget Committee also rejected a request of Sh1 billion for sewerage and pipeline works along the Expressesway as it would hold cash that can be used for other priority areas.
The Infrastructure department risks losing its request for Sh3.4 billion for access roads to food security and nutrition facilities and well as Sh469 million for access roads to the Naivasha ICD and industrial parks.
Committee chairman and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa asked the House to adopt the report which has also reduced recurrent expenditure by Sh800 million.
Super CS Fred Mating’i’s docket will lose Sh1 billion reduced from National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) – Sh800 million, and the rest from operational expenses.
Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone for which Treasury sought approval for Sh1.8 billion has also been hit.
MPs have also demanded that the government provides a Big Four implementation matrix before presenting the Budget Policy Statement for 2020.
“The Treasury should not effect any reduction to the approved budgets of the Judiciary, Parliament and all MDAs through the IFMIS and Treasury circulars before the approval of this House. It is illegal to do so,” Ichung’wa said.
