EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE
(For Immediate Release)

DESPATCH FROM CABINET

His Excellency the President this morning chaired a Cabinet Meeting

at State House, Nairobi. The Meeting is the first since the end of the two-week
Cabinet Working Recess that ended on 28th August, 2020. At today’s sitting,
Cabinet considered a raft of policy interventions geared towards economic
stimulus during and after the subsistence of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Cabinet
also discussed seminal programmes and projects within the Administration’s
Transformative Agenda for the nation espoused as the Big Four.

Cabinet applauded Kenya’s Healthcare Workers for their commitment

to duty during the pendency of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Other frontline staff
including National Security Officers were also recognized by Cabinet for their
sterling role in leading the Nation’s response to COVID-19. As a measure of our
Nation’s recognition of and pride in our frontline workers, Cabinet also approved
the Comprehensive Insurance Cover for all frontline workers.
Cabinet noted that many Kenyan Health Workers had joined various
programmes to support other nations in their fight against various Pandemics;
such as the fifty Kenyans currently serving the Republic of Seychelles and the
team of over one-hundred medical personnel who heeded the call to stand with
the Democratic Republic of the Congo as it contended with Ebola.

In view of the foregoing, Cabinet ratified the Memorandum of

Understanding for the Provision of Health Personnel between the
Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Kenya. Under the
Memorandum of Understanding, the Republic of Seychelles continues to
facilitate the Kenyan Health Personnel serving in that nation.

Cabinet also considered and approved an Inter-Agency Programme

to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the context
of COVID-19. Cabinet noted that during the COVID-19 Pandemic there had
been a marked uptick in undesirable social challenges, amongst them domestic
violence, GBV and violations of the Rights of Children.
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Cabinet underscored that Kenya's heritage and social values situate the
family as the most valued asset in Society, and situates children as the
guarantor of our future. In that regard, Cabinet approved the establishment of
toll-free hotlines and various online and mobile applications that would enable
anonymous reporting of all incidents of Gender-Based Violence and all instances
of abuse of Children’s Rights.

As part of the Administration’s interventions aimed at enhancing access

to credit by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during the pendency
of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cabinet approved the establishment of a Credit
Guarantee Scheme with an initial seed capital of Ksh. Ten Billion to be
capitalized in two tranches of Ksh. 5 Billion in FY 2020/21 and FY 2021/22. The
State’s contributions are expected to be followed by contributions from
Development Finance Institutions and participating commercial financial
institutions; which are expected to boost the finding for the scheme to at least
Ksh. One Hundred Billion. The Credit Guarantee Scheme is expected to be
operationalized by mid-October, 2020.

Towards realization of the agenda on Affordable Housing, Cabinet

approved the implementation of the Mukuru Social Housing Project, the
first social housing programme in Kenya’s history. The Project, with an
estimated investment value of Ksh. Fifteen Billion, will consist of over 13,000
housing units in a partnership between the Government and private investors.
The development of the ancillary infrastructure to the project has since
commenced.

Cabinet approved the Kenya Micro and Small Enterprises Policy;

which aims to provide an integrated business environment for the growth and
development of stable and vibrant MSEs in Kenya. The Policy recognizes the
vital role played by MSEs in the economy, particularly with regard to wealth and
employment creation.

In securing the market of our produce abroad, Cabinet considered and

approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of
Agriculture and the Associazione Caffé Trieste-Italy noting that it sought
to enhance market access for Kenyan Coffee in Italy through a robust
partnership for promoting our produce in the Italian market. Cabinet also noted
that the move would provide a platform for similar engagements within the
other European Union (EU) countries.
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In order to foster the commercialization of Bamboo plants, and as

part of the Administration’s Greening Campaign, which seeks to achieve a
minimum ten-percent (10%) tree cover by the end of the year 2020 in addition
to creating employment through agroforestry; Cabinet sanctioned the
classification and designation of Bamboo as a scheduled crop under
the Crop Act (No. 16 of 2013).

In fidelity with the Presidential Directive on the development of a welfare

package to cushion frontline healthcare workers during the pendency of the
COVID-19 Pandemic, Cabinet approved the enhancement of the Group Personal
Accident and Work Injury Benefit Act Cover and the inclusion of Comprehensive
Group Life Cover for all Civil Servants, including the NYS.

The meeting also considered and approved the other memoranda,

policies and bills as follows: Hosting of the 9th Edition of Africities
Conference in 2021; Industrial Research Development Institute Bill,
2020, Proposed Health Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020; Development of the
Commuter Rail Line from the Nairobi Central Station to Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport and The Kenya Global Partnerships for Education
(GPE) Covid-19.

Cabinet concluded the day’s deliberations by noting that our national

endeavor to flatten the COVID-19 disease curve was dependent on our
individual and communal behaviour. In that regard, Cabinet urged all Kenyans
to continue observing the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of
Health, that include: wearing of facemasks, rigorous and frequent
handwashing, physical and social distancing.

CABINET OFFICE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Thursday,10th September, 2020