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{
    "id": 761416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/761416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1217,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As indicated earlier, in line with Article 221(5) of the Constitution, the Committee also received some submissions from the public on the Supplementary Estimates. Some of the contributions included the need to recruit additional teachers given the enhanced allocation for free day secondary education. This will enhance quality education and the Committee is in agreement. It recommends that the National Treasury considers setting aside funds for recruitment of additional teachers. We discussed with the National Treasury and confirmed that it will allocate further funds in the next Budget to recruit 10,000 teachers. There is also need to enhance public infrastructure in schools focusing on classrooms, science laboratories, additional desks and toilet facilities among others. The Committee notes that Kshs1.4 billion has been allocated in the Supplementary Budget for school infrastructure. I can confirm that there is an allocation for purposes of expanding infrastructure in schools in preparation for the increased enrolment in secondary schools. The Government will implement free secondary education from January. This will ease the pressure on existing infrastructure. In the public opinion, there is a clear manner in which Budget changes were effected across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). There was concern that the changes could affect or are likely to paralyse day-to-day operations in various MDAs. The Committee has adequately addressed this concern in the Report. As earlier stated, we carried out a discussion with various ministries, agencies and commissions to ensure that their activities are not disrupted. Therefore, I confirm that this Committee fully addressed that particular concern. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, as earlier indicated, the updated fiscal projections of the Supplementary Budget were not submitted to Parliament. The National Treasury informed the Committee that Kshs22 billion additional expenditure above the total approved estimates will be funded through donor commitments amounting to Kshs21 billion, therefore, an increase in Road Maintenance Levy Appropriation-in-Aid of Kshs1.2 billion and Kshs0.9 billion from the Exchequer. Given the likely underperformance of business on account of prevailing challenges in the business environment, revenue shortfalls are likely to persist in the financial year. It is likely, therefore, to have a financial gap due to the declining business activity and reduced or postponed private and public Government consumption. In this regard, the cuts on the Government common supplies need to be revisited so as to support the local businesses and tax yield. What this means is that, the main customer of the Government is the public. In this regard, any cuts in the Recurrent Expenditure, though it will ease some funding for development, will also affect the SMEs and small business people who are waiting to be paid for their supplies to the Government. Therefore, if this is not addressed, it would be counterproductive hence the need to balance spending between the Development Expenditure and the Recurrent Expenditure. The Committee has reconsidered some of these cuts based on priority occasioned by its interaction with several MDAs and public participation. The Committee changes will occasion an additional Kshs16.4 billion requiring some financing. It is expected that this expenditure will be cancelled out by absorption by various agencies as well as rationalisation within the financial year. What this means is that we do not expect this increment of Kshs16 billion to fully put pressure on the economy directly because of the way the Government procedures on expenditure operate. It takes time and, therefore, it will slow down the expenditure. Having considered the above matters, the Committee recommends the following on policy recommendations: 1. That as much as possible, the National Treasury should restrict Supplementary Budget to unforeseen and unavoidable expenditures to avoid extensive budget The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}