Kenya to unveil budget proposals earlier than June

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Friday that his government will present its budget proposals earlier than usual as the country prepares for the general elections in August.

Kenyatta said his government would officially notify the East Africa Community (EAC) member states on the change of date for the presentation of the budget proposals.

He added that the government is taking these measures to ensure the country's operations are not hampered when Kenyans go for elections.

EAC member countries have had a tradition of presenting their budgets simultaneously in June and President Kenyatta said Kenya fully supports reforms being undertaken at the EAC secretariat to cut down costs.

"Count on us, we are committed to EAC integration and we want you to succeed," the president said when he held talks in Nairobi with Liberat Mfumukeko, EAC Secretary General.

Speaking during the talks, Mfumukeko said the EAC would send an observer mission to Kenya during the elections, saying Kenya's democracy is a role model to other EAC member states.

The EAC secretary, who was appointed in March 2016, briefed the president on the reforms the secretariat is undertaking which are aimed at cutting costs and improving the ease of doing business in this region.

He said the reforms instituted last year in the organs and institutions of EAC, have so far brought some positive developments in the management of resources at the secretariat.

He said as a show of confidence, key development partners renewed their confidence in EAC and are once again ready and willing to continue supporting the EAC. Endit