Thread by @nisisikenya

June2021
PRESS STATEMENT
COVID-19 RECOVERY CONSIDERATIONS AHEAD OF THE BUDGET READING

We, the undersigned being representatives of human rights organizations, people's movements, and medical associations, #Covid19Budget2021

#Covid19Budget2021 are deeply concerned that COVID-19 still poses a central threat to public health, the
economy, and disrupts daily life sixteen months after March 2020. @AmnestyKenya @MzalendoWatch @irck_info @IBPKenya @KenyaTuitakayo @VaccineKe @IBPKenya

The 2021/2022 Kenya national budget
must play a central role in the Government's response to the debilitating impact of the Corona virus and strengthening the general health system. #Covid19Budget2021

The global COVID-19 pandemic has put Kenya's commitment to
budget transparency into a very sharp focus. #Covid19Budget2021 @KeTreasury @COVID19Tracking

From business relief packages and cash transfers to the most
vulnerable to healthcare infrastructure, this budget reading will have a significant impact for years to
come.
#Covid19Budget2021 @MOH_Kenya @StateHouseKenya @Kenyajudiciary @KeTreasury

The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the need for all governments to invest deeply in healthcare systems
and other social-economic services. States that are recovering the quickest from the pandemic are e those
that have strong public health systems. #Covid19Budget2021

African states through the Abuja declaration in 2001 agreed that
to make steady progress, at least 15% of national budgets should be allocated to healthcare. We are
worried that despite the shocks to all aspects of life and livelihoods due to COVID 19 #Covid19Budget2021 @kmpdu

#Covid19Budget2021 the national budget for healthcare (including what counties spend on health) is still at about 8 per cent and way below the
requirements of the Abuja declaration twenty years down the line. @CSRGKenya @katibainstitute @Twaweza_Ke @DefendersKE

In particular, we are concerned about the following: While many Kenyans have none or limited access to quality public healthcare, our budgetary analysis shows declining allocations for budget lines critical to Universal Health Care. #Covid19Budget2021

This includes an allocation for the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project and Roll-out of Universal Health Coverage. In the FY2021/2022 budget, there is a significant reduction in the budget for both budget lines.
#Covid19Budget2021 #Budget2021

In FY 2020/2021 the budget allocated Kshs 5.2 billion but in the FY 2021/2022 only Kshs 3.4 billion is assigned for Transforming Health Systems. For Universal Care Projects, Kshs 8.l billion was assigned in FY 2020/2021 but the same reduced to Kshs 7.7 billion #Covid19Budget2021

#Covid19Budget2021 in the FY 2021/2022 budget for the Roll-out of Universal Health Coverage. Total national government allocation to healthcare has declined from 6.1 per
cent of total budgetin 2020/2021 to 5.7 percent in 2021/2022.

These reductions are likely to affect resourcing in the health sector both in terms of health personnel,
infrastructure, and supplies. This at a time when our health budget is largely donor-funded and with most
donors withholding support it's important #Covid19Budget2021

#Covid19Budget2021 that we increase health allocation to ensure that health workers remain adequately resourced to support the people through the public healthcare system. The
support should include necessary equipment, protective gear, and research for all health workers.

We believe that voluntary mass vaccination is core to COVID 19 national and global recovery. That the
national 2021/2022 budget is silent on COVID-19 vaccination is a shocking omission. #Covid19Budget2021

While there is mention of COVID-19 vaccines in the narrative section, the proposed budget has not specified any
significant allocation for the purchase of the Covid 19 vaccine despite an increment in the routine immunization budget. #Covid19Budget2021

The estimated total cost of vaccinating the entire adult population in Kenya is
thirty-five billion shillings (Kshs 35,000,000,000/=) or 1% of the projected national budget for FY 2021/22. #Covid19Budget2021

If the protection of people's lives and livelihoods and reopening of all economic sectors to allow people
to rebuild their lives post COVID is dependent on reaching herd immunity, then a universal vaccination roll-out is essential.
#Covid19Budget2021

We therefore call on the government of Kenya to:
1. Increase the health sector allocation in the 2021-2022 budget to the 15% commitment made in the Abuja Declaration. This is the key ingredient to a holistic COVID 19 recovery. #Covid19Budget2021 #COVID19Vic
#COVID19

2. Allocate a budget line of 1 percent for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for the entire adult
population. In addition, allocate funds to subsidize the cost of COVID-19 testing and treatment
and reduce the current burden on thousand's of Kenyans. #Covid19Budget2021
#Kenya

3. Assign an adequate budget line for occupational safety equipment, training, psychosocial support, research, and training of health workers in Kenya as a way of rebuilding the public health care system to be accessible to the 90% of Kenya's population
#Covid19Budget2021

90% of Kenya's population who can't afford quality healthcare #Covid19Budget2021

This statement is signed on 9th June 2021 by the following organizations:

@AmnestyKenya @kmpdu @KenyaTuitakayo @VaccineKe @IBPKenya @MzalendoWatch @irck_info