Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has said the 2026/27 budget reflects proposals collected from Kenyans across the country, defending the government's consultation process amid growing public interest in how spending decisions are made.
Speaking ahead of Thursday's budget presentation, Mbadi said the National Treasury deliberately expanded public engagement beyond what is required by law, allowing citizens, youth groups and players in the informal sector to contribute to discussions on government priorities.
According to the CS, the budget-making process was designed to ensure that public views were not only collected but also considered before final decisions were made.
"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 noted that since taking over at the Treasury in 2024, one of his goals has been to make the institution more accessible to the public and encourage greater openness around government finances.
"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 preparations for the current budget began in September last year and involved several stages, including budget review documents, policy papers, parliamentary consideration and public participation exercises.
As part of the process, he travelled to Migori, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru, Embu, Kiambu, Kajiado and Kilifi to meet residents and stakeholders and hear their views on government spending.
The Treasury also held engagements with youth groups, mitumba traders, boda boda operators and other groups within the informal economy.
"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 said feedback gathered during the consultations informed a number of proposals contained in both the budget and revenue measures that will accompany it.
He also pushed back against claims that the government has reduced support for education, saying available figures show funding has continued to rise over the years.
"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.
The CS said allocations to the education sector have 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.
He further pointed to increased funding for the Teachers Service Commission, which has risen from Sh290 billion in 2022 to Sh421 billion following the hiring of more than 100,000 teachers and salary reviews.
Mbadi also defended government spending on learner support programmes, saying allocations for secondary schools and junior secondary schools have continued to grow.
"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 Treasury CS is expected to present the 2026/27 Budget Statement later on Thursday, outlining government expenditure plans, economic projections and revenue proposals for the coming financial year.