This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
On Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation from State House, unveiling a massive stimulus programme to boost the country's economy.
The programme, worth Sh53.7 billion, aims to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, which has slowed the economy since March, rendering thousands jobless after many businesses were closed down.
As part of the programme, the president has set aside Sh2 billion to support the renovation of facilities and restructuring of business operations in the tourism industry, which has been severely affected by the pandemic.
Hotels in tourism destinations across the country remain closed since March, when the country confirmed its first case of coronavirus.
As of Saturday, COVID-19 cases had reached 1,192, with the confirmation of 31 new infections.
The government has also allocated funds for flood control measures, following the devastating effects caused by heavy rains across the country.
Additionally, the president has announced plans to rehabilitate wells, water pans, and underground tanks in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas to mitigate the impact of deforestation and climate change.
The government will also engage 5,500 community scouts under the Kenya Wildlife Service at a cost of Sh1 billion and provide support to approximately 160 community conservancies at a cost of Sh1 billion.
Furthermore, Sh3 billion has been set aside for the supply of farm inputs through e-vouchers, targeting 200,000 small-scale farmers, and Sh1.5 billion has been allocated to the flower and horticultural producers to access international markets.
