A fresh dispute has emerged over the country’s fiscal direction after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi rejected the opposition’s proposed People’s Budget arguing that alternative budget proposals must be supported by rigorous analysis and realistic planning.
Speaking during a post-budget briefing at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, Mbadi questioned the credibility of the opposition’s economic blueprint, claiming that some of its proposals were derived from figures already contained in government budget documents.
“But I am leaving it to Kenyans to hold leaders who just make sweeping statements and who sometimes pick my figures, remove a few data from my figures, take my Finance Bill and claim to be providing an alternative budget,” Mbadi stated.
The Treasury CS maintained that any group seeking to present a competing budget should demonstrate how its proposals are generated and financed.
“If you want to provide an alternative budget, have your people also do simulations. You will not manage the country, God forbid, if you become President with my data, because I will not be there to supply the data for you,” he added.
Mbadi further criticised the opposition’s plan, describing it as insufficiently prepared and lacking the technical depth required in national budget-making.
“In fact, in my language they say preparing budget ya kalongolongo. Wawachane na hizo budget za kalongolongo. Let them critique our budget and tell us where it is not making sense,” he said.
His remarks came shortly after opposition leaders unveiled what they termed the People’s Budget presenting it as an alternative economic framework focused on easing the cost of living, expanding employment opportunities and increasing funding for critical public services.
Reading a joint statement on behalf of the coalition, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka accused the government of pursuing policies that have increased the country’s debt burden while placing pressure on ordinary citizens.
The opposition’s proposal seeks to channel more resources to education and healthcare, revive programmes such as Linda Mama and Edu Afya, establish an Ksh.80 billion youth employment initiative and scrap the Affordable Housing Levy.
The coalition has also proposed reducing allocations to the State House and the National Intelligence Service and redirecting the funds to agriculture, irrigation and food security programmes.
“We came to write a different budget entirely, one built on the principle that in the Republic of Kenya, the government serves the people, not the other way around,” Kalonzo stated.
As debate over the 2026/27 budget continues, the focus is likely to remain on whether public spending can address citizens’ concerns while keeping the country’s finances sustainable.
