The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has called on both National and County Governments to progressively increase budget allocation for children. Speaking during the launch of a report on child budget allocation, Head of Finance Management Programme in IEA, John Mutua, said that there is a visible underfunding of children’s activities in the country, contrary to provisions of the constitution. “The total budget allocation for children accounts for 25 percent in the National budget while children account for 52 percent in the country’s population,” Mutua added. Mutua said that immunization and feeding programmes for children are over-reliant on unpredictable donor funding and the government should increase the allocation in its 2015/2016 financial year budget. The report commended the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services for being sensitive to children issues as its children’s budget share is above 60 percent. It however observed that the Ministry of Interior and Coordination were the least sensitive as its children’s budget share is 2 percent. Mutua also urged the National and County Governments to make the budget information on children available as it is only Nakuru County that has made it available online.

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