The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the preparation of the 2026/27 national budget, insisting that extensive public participation was carried out and that views from Kenyans were incorporated into the final spending plan.
Mbadi said the National Treasury went beyond the legal minimum requirements to ensure transparency and inclusivity in the budget-making process, engaging citizens from different regions and sectors.
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Speaking ahead of the budget presentation, the CS noted that since assuming office in 2024, he had focused on opening up the Treasury to public scrutiny and strengthening citizen involvement in fiscal planning.
“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.
He added that efforts had been made to “demystify” the National Treasury and make its operations more open, saying the traditional closed approach to budget formulation needed to change.
Mbadi explained that the budget process began in September last year and involved several stages, including policy reviews, parliamentary input, and public participation forums.
He said consultations were held in various parts of the country, including Migori, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru, Embu, Kiambu, Kajiado and Kilifi, where citizens shared their views on government spending priorities.
The Treasury also engaged specific groups such as youth organisations, informal sector workers, boda boda operators and mitumba traders, many of whom submitted memoranda and proposals.
“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.
Mbadi maintained that feedback from these consultations influenced several aspects of the final budget and related revenue measures.
At the same time, he dismissed claims that the government was reducing funding to the education sector, terming such assertions 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.
He revealed that the education budget had risen from Sh526 billion in the 2021/22 financial year to Sh784.5 billion in the 2026/27 budget, increasing its share of ministerial allocations to 26.4 percent.
Mbadi further noted that funding for the Teachers Service Commission had grown from Sh290 billion in 2022 to Sh421 billion, driven by the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and salary adjustments.
He also highlighted increased capitation for secondary and junior secondary education, saying combined funding had grown from Sh62 billion in 2022 to about Sh86 billion currently.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary is expected to formally present the 2026/27 Budget Statement later in the day, outlining government spending priorities, revenue measures and the broader economic outlook.
