Further to the issues raised by Opposition Leader Hon Raila Odinga on the lies about the wage bill, we wish to make the following observations that arise from a careful examination of previous practices with regard to raising money for what the government deems critical causes. We advise that Jubilee embarks on similar steps to those outlined below and immediately restore sanity to the education sector.
In the last Financial Year the Government increased the approved budget for 2014/2015 twice in the year.
The first adjustment saw the total approved budget increased by Ksh50.5 billion. The second adjustment brought a further Ksh193.8 billion increase.
By the end of the Financial Year, the originally approved budget had been adjusted upwards by a total of Ksh244.2 billion up from a total approved National Government Expenditure estimate of Ksh1.18Trillion to Ksh1.43 Trillion.
The Budget for the Office of the President was increased from Ksh. 4.3 billion to Ksh.8.5billion, Ministry of Defense increased by Ksh.5.6 billion, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum increased by 14.5 billion, Department of Interior rose by Ksh.18.2billion, Department of Planning went up by Ksh.8.46, and Department of Devolution rose by Ksh.7.2b while infrastructure went up by 9.8b, to mention but a few.
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The government was able to increase the budget by a whooping Ksh.244.2b in May and found money for it. A lot of that money was for recurrent expenditure.
Out of a total of Ksh17.5b in the first supplementary budget, Ksh.41.5b was recurrent expenditure.
Why is it so difficult to find Ksh.17b for teacher’s salary increment in budget that is even bigger than the 2014/2015 financial year?
If Jubilee considers teachers and education sector a priority, it would adjust the budget to accommodate salary needs.
The writer is Chairman ODM.
