PRESIDENT William Samoei Ruto, Ph.D., C.G.H., today chaired his inaugural meeting of the nation’s apex policy organ – Cabinet, at State  House, Nairobi.  

The Cabinet Meeting was attended by all transitioning Cabinet  Secretaries.

The day’s agenda centered on the state of the economy, assessment of the ongoing drought situation, the security situation in the country, and the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Uganda.  

In examining the state of the economy, Cabinet was apprised of the implementation of the Financial Year 2022/23 Budget; and thereafter Cabinet assessed the fiscal performance for the period ending August 2022. 

Cabinet also assessed some of the risks to the implementation of the  Budget such as drought; macroeconomic variables arising from  inflation, interest rate, exchange rates, and the global prices of key  commodities; disruptions in supply chains; and the impact of the geo 

politics and various events on the global stage on our local economy. 

Cabinet sanctioned the rationalization of the Budget to enable  realignment of expenditure to bridge the fiscal deficit and to also enable the 

administration more robustly respond to emerging national challenges such  as the drought and other challenges to food security.  

With regard to drought, 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 the  society. Special focus will also be given to vulnerable persons in hospitals.  Further, the Meeting approved the framework for stronger co-ordination  between the two tiers of Government and also between State and Non-State  Actors; with a view of building better synergy and eliminating duplication of  efforts.  

In the medium term, Cabinet authorized a response plan for the  next year that leverages on the bounty of our nation and the  resources available so as to ensure that failure in rains does not result in  Kenyan families being unable to feed themselves and their livestock. 

In that endeavour the Administration will work closely with our  development partners, the County Governments, and the Private Sector to  create partnerships that reduce our reliance on rain-fed agriculture,  introduce drought resistance crops that withstand extreme conditions, and  create early warning and response mechanisms that are activated at the very  start of adverse situations rather than when the situations have escalated  into disaster conditions. 

The Meeting was also apprised on the national roll out of the  National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme; noting that increasing  agricultural production and productivity was one of the key drivers to  attaining food and nutrition security. In that regard, Cabinet reviewed the 

scope of the Subsidy Programme so as to include a subsidy on fertilizer  for tea farmers under the KTDA. Cabinet also approved a framework to  facilitate fertilizer manufacturers who wish to set up blending companies in  the country.  

The nation’s apex policy making body also took note of the attempts  by the former Board Members of KTDA to reverse the reforms that had 

been made in the tea sector sub-sector and the new leadership they  heralded. Cabinet reaffirmed that the Administration would not turn back on the reforms made by the previous administration aimed at strengthening the good governance of the tea sub-sector.  

As the nation looks forward to the onset of the short-rains in early  October, Cabinet called on all framers across the country to leverage on the  opportunity afforded by the Government to boost their crop yields by  purchasing their fertilizer from a NCPB Depot near them and under the  Government Subsidy Programme.  

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; some of which had most regrettably led to loss of lives,  injury, destruction of property, and displacement of persons. 

The latest such incident, which occurred last week and claimed the lives of eight police  officers, a senior chief and a renowned female peace ambassador, was  highlighted. In memory of their lives and as mark of respect, Cabinet  observed a minute of silence in their honour. 

Cabinet thereafter authorized the deployment of formed police units  within the affected areas whose mission shall be to maintain peace and  security in the areas. Cabinet further directed that the peace and security  initiatives shall also integrate local communities and their leaders in a joint  peace initiatives aimed at ending decades-old communal tensions.  

Drawing from the lessons learnt in the management of Covid-19  Pandemic, Cabinet took note of the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in  Uganda; further noting that the highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fevers  caused by the virus have a mortality rate of as high as 90%. 

In that regard, 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. Cabinet urged all Kenyans to  remain calm but also to be vigilant of any suspected cases; and to  immediately report any suspected cases to the proper authorities.

To institutionalize our national response to Ebola, Cabinet approved the reactivation of the National Task Force on the Ebola Virus Disease.  Cabinet further established an Incident Management Team with the mandate  of coordinating our national Ebola preparedness and response efforts. The  Incident Management Team shall work in close collaboration will all the  Country Governments, with the border Counties taking their rightful lead.