Govt to adequately fund IEBC, complete pending development projects

Govt to adequately fund IEBC, complete pending development projects

The just ended Cabinet retreat has resolved that government will prioritize adequate funding of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure a credible General Election next year.

Addressing the media on the two-day Cabinet retreat chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu said the government will also focus on resettling all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) after the collapse of International Criminal Court (ICC) cases.

“We thank God for the end of the long ICC matter. But we know that many of our people still suffer from the consequences of the tragedy of 2007/08, and other tragedies of its kind before it. It’s our duty as Kenyans, and particularly for the Cabinet, to bind and heal the wounds of the country,” stated Esipisu.

Esipisu also revealed that President Kenyatta will not clear any new project next year with focus shifting to completion of projects and programmes already underway.

“In healthcare, Government will continue with the ambitious managed equipment services programme. As you know, seven hospitals of the 98 targeted have been fully refurbished and equipped, while dozens others are in various stages of completion. All will be equipped in the next 12 months.”

The spokesman further indicated that this year’s national budget will remain at 1.7 trillion shillings and National Treasury CS Henry Rotich will submit budget estimates to Parliament by April 28th.

“Cabinet Secretaries will then be required to explain their proposals at parliamentary committees. The President expects that process to remain purely an explanatory exercise on the part of Cabinet, rather than an opportunity to try to seek further financing for ministries,” said Esipisu.

The State House Spokesman also noted that the Cabinet will hold its regular meetings twice-a-month, focusing, as usual, on policy issues.

According to Esipisu, these meetings will also  focus on reviewing, monitoring and evaluating progress of projects under implementation.

Esipisu also revealed that presentations at Cabinet meetings will be by cluster, and will usually follow meetings of the various clusters themselves, which are expected to agree policies before bringing them to Cabinet.

“The five Cabinet clusters are Security, chaired by the President and deputized by Defence CS Amb. Raychelle Omamo; Productive and Infrastructure sectors chaired by CS Najib Balala; Agricultural Transformation and Environment Protection, chaired by CS Willy Bett; Human Capital Development, chaired by CS Dr Fred Matiang’i; and the Governance and Public Administration cluster, chaired by Attorney-General Professor Githu Muigai,” stated Esipisu.

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kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta Manoah Esipisu Cabinet

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