Gov’t sets aside Sh7bn to COVID-19 vaccines

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 7 – The Government has allocated Shs 7 billion to enable the purchase of  Covid-19 vaccines and related expenses during the 2022/23 financial year.

Treasury CS Ukur Yattani, while issuing the budget statement, he said the funding is an appropriate policy approach to cushion the economy for the 2022/23 Covid-19 recovery

The funds will be part of the Ksh 62.3 billion set aside to fund activities and programs for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.

“To further enhance the realization of universal health care coverage, I propose to allocate 146.8 billion to the healthcare sector to support various programs, specific allocations for
various activities and programs include Shs 7 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and related expenditures; Shs 4.1 billion for Free Maternity Health Care; Ksh 5.2 billion for the Managed Equipment Services as well as Ksh 1.8 billion to provide medical 56 covers for the elderly and severely disabled persons in our society,” he said.

He added that the government will enhance security for Citizens, improve the environment, improve infrastructure, enhance transformation of key economic sectors, quality services in health and vulnerable populations and support developed systems of government.

The government is implementing the third phase of the economic stimulus which is designed to accelerate the pace of our economic growth.

Overall, the government has projected the 2022/23 budget at Sh3.3 trillion which will be spread across the recurrent expenditure at Sh2.3 trillion and development expenditure of Sh715.5 billion.

While issuing the 2022/23 budget statement, Yattani said development expenditures will include allocations to foreign-financed projects, Contingency Fund, and conditional transfers to County Governments.

“This funding is expected to accelerate the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects. ,” he said adding that the equitable share to Counties is projected at Shs 370.0 billion.

The government has also allocated Sh146.1 billion towards the implementation of President Uhuru’s Big Four Agenda in the 2022/23 financial year.