Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday announced a massive stimulus programme to jump-start the country’s economy by pumping Sh53.7 billion into various sectors.
The plan is to help businesses and Kenyans survive the economic storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the president said.
The president said Sh2 billion has been set aside to support renovation of facilities and the restructuring of business operations in the tourism industry.
He also said that Sh 6.5 billion has been allocated to the ministry of education, for the purpose of hiring an additional 10,000 teachers and 1,000 ICT interns to support the digital learning programme.
In the agricultural sector, the president said Ksh. 3 billion has been allocated for the supply of farm inputs through e-vouchers, targeting 200,000 small scale farmers.
“Further, under this programme Ksh. 1.5 billion will be set aside to assist flower and horticultural producers to access international markets,” President Kenyatta said.
A further Sh1 billion has also been set aside for flood control measures after devastating effects caused by heavy rains across the country.
“And to mitigate the impact of deforestation and climate change, and to enhance the provision of water facilities, my administration will rehabilitate wells, water pans and underground tanks in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas,” he said, setting aside Sh 850 million.
The president also announced that Ksh. 600 million has been allocated to purchase locally manufactured vehicles.
“As a strategy, we will enforce the policy on ‘Buy Kenya Build Kenya’, I urge all of us to remain Kenya Daima; confident that the endurance we are so famous for will drive us to victory,” he added.
