President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 27, chaired a meeting with all transitioning Cabinet Secretaries.
The Cabinet, according to a dispatch, examined the state of the economy, assessed the drought and security situation in the country, as well as the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Uganda.
The Cabinet, in the meeting, called hours before the unveiling of new CS nominees, also assessed the risks to the implementation of the budget, macro-economic variables arising from inflation and the impact of the geopolitics on our local economy.
In order to enable Ruto's administration to robustly respond to emerging national challenges, Cabinet sanctioned the rationalization of the budget to enable realignment of expenditure to bridge the fiscal deficit.
Drought
With regard to drought, the Cabinet ratified the proposal by the Joint Working Committee to prioritize relief support to lactating mothers and school-going children, so as not to widen the levels of inequity in society.
In the mid-term, the Cabinet authorized a response plan for the next year so as to ensure that rain failure does not result in Kenyan families being unable to feed themselves and their livestock.
Further, the administration endeavoured to work closely with the country's development partners, the county governments, and the private sector to create partnerships that reduce our reliance on rain-fed agriculture, introduce drought resistance crops and create early warning and response mechanisms.
Fertilizer subsidy
The meeting was also apprised of the national rollout of the National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme.
Upon reviewing its scope, so as to include a subsidy on fertilizer for tea farmers under KTDA, the Cabinet approved a framework to facilitate fertilizer manufacturers who wish to set up blending companies in the country.
The nation's apex policy-making body went on to reaffirm that the new administration would not turn back on the reforms made by the previous administration aimed at strengthening the tea sub-sector.
Security
The security situation in the country was assessed with a focus on Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties. It was noted that those areas had experienced cyclic waves of banditry and livestock raids.
The Cabinet authorized the deployment of formed police units within the affected and further directed that the peace and security initiatives shall integrate local communities and their leaders in joint peace initiatives aimed at ending decades-old communal tensions.
Ebola
Drawing from the lessons learnt in the management of Covid-19, Cabinet directed the Ministry of Health, together with all other concerned State actors, to heighten the level of surveillance at all points of entry into the country.
It approved the reactivation of the National Task Force on the Ebola Virus Disease and established an Incident Management Team to coordinate the country's preparedness and response efforts.
