Tambach: The Principal Secretary (PS) National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, has called on Kenyans to work hard to improve the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in a bid to improve the economy.
According to Kenya News Agency, the PS stated that the country is experiencing a very tight fiscal state. The Treasury recently presented a Sh.4.2 trillion budget to Parliament, which requires financing through taxes. However, the revenue collected is insufficient, with expenditures surpassing the revenue, necessitating borrowing both locally and internationally. Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that the borrowing capacity is becoming limited.
Speaking after distributing 100,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in the Tambach region, Dr. Kiptoo highlighted that the only viable option left is for Kenyans to work hard and expand the national economy by increasing the GDP, which currently stands at Sh.19 trillion. He expressed hope that doubling this figure within the next two years would significantly improve the country's financial standing.
Dr. Kiptoo encouraged farmers in the area to not only plant but also manage the coffee seedlings, indicating that one tree could generate Sh.10,000 for a farmer. This initiative could potentially enable farmers in the region to earn Sh.1 billion in the next three years once the trees mature.
Additionally, he noted that coffee cultivation would aid in environmental conservation. He urged county leadership to identify suitable crops for the region's ecological zones to help farmers earn an income while preserving the environment. Dr. Kiptoo reiterated the importance of balancing forest conservation with improving residents' livelihoods, suggesting activities like zero grazing and planting cash crops such as tea, coffee, and mangoes.
During the same event, PS Forestry Gitonga Mugambi urged residents to support the fencing of forests, a practice recognized internationally for forest conservation. He assured residents that fencing would not infringe upon their forest user rights, emphasizing the continued benefits of forests, including clean air and water provision.