Mbadi: Kenyans' views were included in proposed budget

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the 2026-27 budget-making process, saying the government extensively consulted Kenyans and incorporated proposals from citizens, youth groups and various sectors before finalising the spending plan.

Mbadi said the National Treasury had gone beyond the minimum legal requirements to ensure public participation and transparency in budget preparation.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the budget presentation, Mbadi said since taking office in 2024, he had sought to demystify the Treasury by opening up the institution to greater public scrutiny and engagement.

"What is different is that we have tried as much as possible to live by the spirit of the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act. What we are doing is to make sure that what is spelt out in law is actually done," Mbadi said.

"As I assumed office in 2024, I promised that we were going to demystify the National Treasury and open it up. This straitjacket way of dealing with the National Treasury must end, and that is what I've tried to do.”

Mbadi explained that the budget preparation process began in September last year and involved multiple stages, including budget review papers, policy statements, parliamentary scrutiny and public participation forums.

To gather public views, he said he toured various parts of the country, holding consultations in Migori, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru, Embu, Kiambu, Kajiado and Kilifi.

He also engaged youth groups, informal-sector workers, boda boda operators and mitumba traders.

"There were a lot of memorandums submitted to the National Treasury. I even invited certain specific sectors to the National Treasury, including boda boda riders and the mitumba sector. We tried to take care of some of the suggestions and proposals that came from these sectors," he said.

According to Mbadi, the consultations influenced several proposals contained in the budget and accompanying revenue-raising measures.

The Treasury boss also dismissed claims that the government was reducing funding to education, describing the assertions as misleading.

"There has been this talk and misleading information that we are defunding education. The narrative is completely misplaced, and it is propaganda. We are funding education more," he said.

Mbadi said the education budget had increased from Sh526 billion in the 2021/22 financial year, representing 24.5 per cent of ministerial allocations, to Sh784.5 billion in the 2026/27 budget, accounting for 26.4 per cent of ministerial spending.

He added that funding for the Teachers Service Commission had risen from Sh290 billion in 2022 to Sh421 billion, largely due to the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and salary adjustments.

On capitation, Mbadi said government funding for secondary education and junior secondary schools had grown significantly over the years.

Secondary school education was receiving Sh62 billion in 2022. Today, if you combine free day secondary education and junior secondary school funding, it comes to about Sh86 billion. That is more than Sh20 billion additional funding," he said.

The CS is expected to outline the government's spending priorities, economic outlook and revenue measures when he delivers the 2026/27 Budget Statement later in the day.