PS Unveils Plans to Implement a Charge on Imported Junk Foods to Finance School Lunch Program.
Belio Kipsang, the principal secretary for education, has disclosed plans to impose a new tax on select imported junk food items in order to finance the school feeding program.
During her Tuesday, June 11 appearance before the Departmental Committee on Education of the National Assembly, Kipsang disclosed that the Ministry was in discussions with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over the potential implementation of a tax on imported junk food.
He explained in detail how the levy would be ringfenced to guarantee that all proceeds would go into the feeding program.
The PS clarified that the levy’s implementation was one of the tactics used to finance the program, which was facing budgetary difficulties.
“He said that there was a strategy to advocate for allocating 2.5 percent of the nation’s income to the initiative.
“He further disclosed that the ministry was in negotiation with the Kenya Revenue Authority to impose a levy on imported junk food to be ringfenced to cover the national feeding program,” Parliament read a portion of the statement.
More information, such as the charge rate and potential commencement date, was withheld, though.
Kenyans are known for consuming a variety of processed meats, such as bacon, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, and sweets, in addition to sugary drinks.
Ripple Effect: As a result, food prices will skyrocket as a result of the levy.
Notably, one of the sectors that saw funding reductions in the upcoming budget was the school lunch program.
Compared to the Ksh5.4 billion in the current budget, Ksh3 billion has been allotted to the 2024–2025 program.
Therefore, it is anticipated that many students will gain from the plan to enhance funds through the fee.
As a member of the Global School Meals Coalition, Kenya is dedicated to attaining universal school meals by 2030, extending the current coverage from 2.6 million to 10 million students. Despite the present obstacles, PS Kipsang reassured members.
“According to the PS, the program which started in 1979 after the country was hit by a severe drought that affected 80 per cent of the population and resulted in school dropouts, had expanded gradually to cover a total of 2.6 million learners in 8,185 schools across the country as of 2024,” the committee stated.
PS Unveils Plans to Implement a Charge on Imported Junk Foods to Finance School Lunch Program.
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