Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday signed into law the country’s 2020/21 Budget, which includes a stimulus package to help Kenyans overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ksh 3.2 trillion 2020/21 Budget contains a Ksh 56.6 billion post COVID-19 economic stimulus package to cushion Kenyans from the effects of the pandemic.
Some of the amendments in the Finance Act include the zero rating of VAT on maize, cassava and wheat flour for 6 months so as to make unga affordable.
The new Finance Act also extends the zero rating of VAT on cooking gas for one year.
President Kenyatta also signed the 2019/20 Third Supplementary Budget, which provides for a Ksh 5 billion to Counties for their COVID-19 response and Ksh 3.4 billion for COVID-19 allowances to frontline health workers.
Kenya on Tuesday reported 176 new COVID-19 infections, taking the country’s total tally to 6,366.
The East African country has also registered 148 COVID-19 deaths, according to the ministry of health.
The country has seen a recent spike in new cases as health experts say Africa’s has not yet experienced its peak.
In response to the pandemic, President Kenyatta imposed a partial lockdown and nationwide curfew in March, and extended the measures until July 6.
Ahead of July 6, the government has been receiving varying advice from different quarters on the way forward, some wanting an opening while others root for an extension of the restrictions.
