East Africa Community, ASALs, and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza and her Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu have defended the 2024–2025 budget and asked Kenyans opposing it to rethink their positions.
Speaking at St. Anne’s Muthale Girls Secondary School in Kitui West Sub County during a fundraiser, the two cabinet secretaries said that the only mark of patriotism for Kenyans is to sacrifice for the development of their motherland.
Ms. Malonza said the government had earmarked many development projects across the country for which resource mobilisation via taxation and other revenue collection measures were necessary for their implementation.
She said since Kitui was acutely water deficient, the government has set out to fund a mega project to provide water to citizens in the county and improve their socio-economic welfare.
Malonza also cited key development initiatives in the county by the national government, such as the injection of Sh 250 million for the completion of Umaa Dam in Kitui Central Sub County, Sh 80 billion for Thwake Dam, and Sh 1 billion for the extension of water from Kiambere Dam to Kyuso Sub County.
Other programmes include the Sh1.5 billion water supply extension project from Kindaruma Dam to Mwingi West, the construction of the Sh487 billion High Grand Falls Dam, which stretches from Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, and Tana River counties, and Sh1 billion for extension of electricity to all public schools through the rural electrification project.
Additionally, Ms. Malonza noted that the government is also constructing 37 power sub-stations in various locations across the country, of which two will be in Kitui County, Mutomo, and Kabati, as a measure to stabilise power supply in the area.
Others include the construction of modern markets in Kakongo, Kamuwongo, and Ithiani, as well as increasing the National Government Constituency Development Fund allocation.
Machogu said the Government has disbursed Sh8.05 billion in capitation funds for University Education and will make similar disbursements for both Primary and Secondary schools next week. He wondered where else these funds should come from, if not from the pockets of beneficiaries, all Kenyans.
The Education CS was reacting to comments made by Kitui West MP Edith Nyenze, who argued that the proposed budget should be shot down for increasing taxation on poor Kenyans.
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna, who also graced the event, criticised the budget plan, saying that he will introduce nine amendments to the bill in Parliament.
In response to the sentiments expressed by the two legislators, Machogu reiterated that, as patriots of our beloved country, Kenya, we should brace ourselves to bear the brunt of the proposed budget in order to build a country where all can thrive.
The fundraiser was meant to facilitate the construction of a perimeter wall, computer labs, and pedestrian overpass to connect the school’s two compounds, separated by a busy road.
By Denson Mututo
