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National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has confirmed that the 2025/26 national budget statement, including key revenue-raising proposals, will be presented to Parliament on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
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In an interview held on April 18, Mbadi said the date was reached in agreement with fellow East African finance ministers after regional consultations in Uganda.
“I proposed June 12 as the budget reading date, and my counterparts agreed—it was actually first suggested by the Tanzanian minister,” he shared.
He explained that the June 12 session will focus on unveiling the main policy directions and revenue plans that shape the overall budget framework.
“The public will already have a sense of the tax proposals through the Finance Bill even before I formally present the budget to Parliament,” Mbadi noted.
Constitutional Timelines
Mbadi emphasized the importance of adhering to constitutional timelines, stating that the Appropriation Bill—authorizing government expenditure—must be approved by Parliament and signed into law by the President by June 30, 2025.
“If the President hasn’t signed the Appropriation Bill by June 30, then a vote on account allows the government to continue spending temporarily while waiting for presidential assent,” he explained.
He clarified that under the current Constitution, this vote on account is only possible after Parliament passes the bill.
Finance Bill 2025
In a previous briefing on February 13, 2025, Mbadi revealed that the proposed national budget for 2025/26 is projected at Ksh4.2 trillion. He added that public consultations on the Finance Bill 2025 are already underway, as required by Chapter 12 of the Constitution.
“Some Kenyans wonder why we must have a Finance Bill every year. The Constitution mandates it. It doesn’t always have to raise taxes—it could lower them or keep them unchanged—but a bill must be tabled,” he explained.
Addressing concerns following the backlash over the 2024 Finance Bill, which was withdrawn after mass protests, Mbadi said the government is taking a more balanced and realistic approach this time.
“We are more grounded in our revenue expectations for 2025/26. We’ve revised our projections to be more attainable, signaling that we are aligning plans with actual performance,” he said.
