Cabinet approves new policies, reforms in inaugural meeting under President Ruto

Cabinet on Tuesday, September 17, approved several new policies and reforms during its inaugural meeting under President William Ruto.

 The session followed a Cabinet induction programme designed to advance the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The meeting centred on enhancing accountability and transparency in public affairs to combat corruption.

President Ruto outlined key reforms, including implementing surcharges for officials responsible for the loss of public resources, as stipulated in Articles 226(5), 201(d), and 232(b) of the Constitution.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the introduction of a unified Personnel Identification system to prevent 'ghost worker' payroll fraud.

This, Ruto said, will be supported by a framework for continuous vetting of public officers and centralisation of wealth declarations.

To address corruption, the Cabinet will amend relevant statutes and review the Witness Protection Act to better support whistleblowers.

A zero-based budgeting system will be adopted from the fiscal year 2025/26, and efforts to enhance transparency in VAT refund processes will be intensified.

The Cabinet also sanctioned the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), effective October 1, 2024.

The Edu Afya and Linda Mama programmes will be expanded to cover more students and provide comprehensive maternal care.

In its update, the Cabinet reported that the “Hustlers Fund” has disbursed Sh57 billion to 2 million borrowers.

A new financial product for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will be introduced to further financial inclusion.

The Cabinet reviewed climate change adaptation programmes, including the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, which aims to plant 15 billion trees.

The Kenya Watershed Services Improvement Program (KEWASIP) was approved to boost climate resilience and restore degraded landscapes.

The ongoing national wildlife census, Kenya's second, was also discussed, reflecting the country's commitment to conservation.

Looking ahead, the Third African Forum on Cybercrime will be hosted in November 2024 and the UN World Tourism Day/Week will feature free park entry on September 28.