AfriPulse
Parliament has approved the 2026/27 national budget, setting aside Ksh4.9 billion to absorb 20,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms as part of a record Ksh781.4 billion allocation to the education sector.
The National Assembly on Thursday, June 4, approved the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and the Medium-Term Budget Framework for the 2026/27 financial year, paving the way for the Appropriation Bill that will authorise government spending.
Education emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the budget, receiving Ksh781.4 billion for basic education, technical training institutions, and universities.
The allocation includes funding for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to transition 20,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, a move expected to boost staffing levels in public schools across the country.
Members of Parliament during a session to deliberate on the 2026/27 budget on June 4, 2026.
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Parliament
Higher education also received a major boost, with lawmakers approving Ksh56.7 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to support university and college students.
The health sector received Ksh175.5 billion, with Parliament prioritising the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda and the expansion of primary healthcare services.
To strengthen healthcare delivery, legislators approved Ksh19.1 billion for the Primary Healthcare Fund and Ksh4 billion for the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund to support patients requiring specialised treatment.
The Global Fund Programme received Ksh18.5 billion to sustain interventions against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis across the country.
Affordable housing also emerged as a key beneficiary after Parliament approved Ksh138.2 billion for the sector, including Ksh50 billion earmarked for the Affordable Housing Programme.
Lawmakers said the allocation would accelerate housing delivery, create employment opportunities for young people, and support urban infrastructure development and the upgrading of informal settlements.
The budget further allocated Ksh16.3 billion for rural electrification and Ksh7.5 billion for national grid expansion to improve access to reliable electricity in underserved areas.
Meanwhile, legislators raised concerns over the country’s growing debt burden, noting that public debt servicing is projected to hit Ksh1.1 trillion.
The House also endorsed the mandatory rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system to improve accountability and reduce wastage in public spending.
Power Engineers conduct operations and maintenance team is on-site on the 500kV HVDC Ethiopia-Kenya Transmission Line on October 30, 2024.
KETRACO
Source: Kenyans.co.ke | Read the Full Story…
