Teachers, police and village elders set for major gains in Sh4.8 trillion budget

Kenya’s new spending plan is set to open fresh opportunities for thousands of teachers, police officers, farmers and village elders, as Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi prepares to table a Sh4.8 trillion budget in Parliament this afternoon.

The proposal places job creation at the centre of government spending, with wide-ranging allocations aimed at easing unemployment, improving public services and supporting national preparations ahead of the next General Election. It also reflects growing pressure on the government to expand opportunities for young people.

A report by the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee indicates that the plan leans heavily towards expanding employment and strengthening service delivery across key sectors. The committee, led by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, said the proposals were refined after 14 sittings and public hearings held in 16 counties.

Education remains the biggest winner in the budget, receiving Sh781.4 billion, the largest share among all sectors.

Within the sector, 20,000 intern teachers are expected to be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms, a move that could ease long-standing concerns among Junior Secondary School teachers working on temporary contracts.

The government has set aside Sh4.9 billion to facilitate the transition of the teachers, alongside funds to promote at least 30,000 educators across the country. Additional support will also go towards implementing the second phase of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The committee report notes that the education allocations are aimed at addressing staffing gaps while improving job security and morale in learning institutions.

In the security sector, the Interior Department has received additional funding to support the recruitment of 10,000 police officers, a move expected to strengthen law enforcement capacity nationwide.

Village elders, who have long called for formal recognition and support, are also set to receive monthly stipends of Sh3,000 under the new plan. Lawmakers say the allocation is meant to acknowledge their role in grassroots administration and community coordination.

Farmers will benefit from a major increase in fertiliser subsidies, which has been raised to Sh18 billion, up by nearly Sh8 billion from previous allocations.

The subsidy programme is intended to lower production costs and improve agricultural output across the country. It is supported by Sh2.4 billion for ongoing reforms in the sugar sector and Sh2 billion for seed subsidy programmes targeting farmers.

Beyond agriculture and public service, the budget also places strong emphasis on expanding employment opportunities for young people.

As part of this push, the government has introduced a Labour Migration and Export Programme under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, designed to connect Kenyan workers to job opportunities abroad.

Other priority areas in the budget include healthcare, the digital economy and maritime employment, reflecting a broader strategy focused on job creation and improved service delivery across government sectors.