Three Cabinet Secretaries and several Principal Secretaries appeared before the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, chaired by Sen Julius Murgor (West Pokot), to discuss the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, warning that budgetary constraints could significantly impact key government programmes.

Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, alongside his counterparts Salim Mvurya (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports) and Justin Muturi (Public Service and Human Capital Development), told the committee that the proposed budget ceilings would curtail crucial initiatives across their ministries. They were joined by Principal Secretaries Anne Wang’ombe (Gender) and Ummi Bashir (Culture, the Arts and Heritage) in making the case for additional funding.

CS Mutua highlighted the likely reduction of monthly stipends under the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme for older persons from KES 2,000 to KES 1,000 due to a KES 19.85 billion shortfall. The BPS allocates KES 24.48 billion against a requirement of KES 44.33 billion. This revelation followed a call by Sen Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira) to increase the stipend to KES 4,000 and to consider reinstating bank transfers alongside M-PESA disbursements.

Sen Miraj Abdullahi questioned the existence of a nutrition-sensitive cash transfer programme for malnourished communities, saying she was hearing about it for the first time. She urged its expansion beyond arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) to other counties in the interest of equitable resource distribution. 

Separately, Sen Alexander Mundigi (Embu) called for the immediate onboarding of all citizens aged 70 and above into the cash transfer programme, in consultation with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO).

CS Mvurya told the committee that budget cuts over the past three years had hampered youth employment and job creation efforts, with the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy requiring an additional KES 4.146 billion to implement key programmes. However, Sen Seki Lenku (Kajiado) questioned the department’s claim of a 100% absorption rate for the Development of Youth Empowerment Centres, pointing out that the centres were not operational in Kajiado County.

Public Service CS Muturi expressed concern over the 40.9% budget ceiling in his ministry’s budget, noting that the allocated KES 9.896 billion for the 2025/26 financial year fell far short of the KES 24.17 billion required. He warned that this shortfall could derail the implementation of a presidential directive to increase National Youth Service (NYS) recruitment from 10,000 to 100,000 by 2027/28.

Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) urged the ministry to ensure equitable recruitment across all 47 counties. In response, Muturi called on leaders to actively mobilise young people to attend recruitment drives, complementing the efforts of NGAO officials.

The Committee will review the submissions and is expected to finalise its report for tabling in the House.