Lawmakers have reacted to the FY 2025/26 Budget Estimates totaling to Kshs 4.2T that was presented by the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary, Hon. John Mbadi.

The National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gladys Boss, stated that what the CS had presented is a people’s budget since he had taken into account the issues that Kenyans raised during the FY 2024/25 Finance Bill protests.

“Kenyans came out very clearly, they said we do not want more taxation. They also said that they didn’t want Kenya to take more debts so the Ministry have struck a balance by finding how do we raise more revenue without increasing taxes,” the Deputy Speaker said.

According to Hon. Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga), the Budget and Appropriation Committee Chairperson, he was satisfied with the highlighted Budget and it is exactly what they passed in the Committee of Supply.

“I have listened to his presentation carefully and there is no deviation he has presented what we passed as a House and waiting to appropriate it next week. The biggest takeout is that this Budget is framed to meet the fiscal deficit framework which is sustainable,” Hon. Atandi said.

According to Hon. Atandi they had done a budget that meets the revenue projections which he says are factual and will be realized.

For, Hon. Lilian Gogo (Rangwe) she disclosed that she was impressed by the concerns for women and youth empowerment and the increased allocation to food and nutrition security.

However, Hon Gitonga Mukunji (Manyatta), had a different view and he stated that the after the Budget reading there is a need to push for a budget that works for Kenya and a Budget that is actually value for the taxes Kenyans pay.

“There is a need to relook and ensure that we have a budget that works for Kenyans as right now I think it is the time to say that we need to relook on how we are spending resources in Kenya,” Hon. Mukunji said.

Earlier on when CS Mbadi presented the Budget, he stated that the total expenditure in the FY 2025/26 budget projected at Ksh 4,291.9 billion is equivalent 22.3 percent of GDP. He further detailed that of this, recurrent expenditures will amount to Ksh 3,134.4 billion equivalent to 16.3 percent of GDP and development expenditures including allocations to domestic and foreign financed projects, Contingency Fund and Equalization Fund will amount to Ksh 693.2 billion equivalent to 3.6 percent of GDP.

Total allocation to County Governments, as per the CS, is projected at Ksh 474.9 billion of which equitable share is Ksh 405.1 billion.

“The resultant fiscal deficit including grants is projected at Ksh 923.2 billion, equivalent to 4.8 percent of GDP down from the estimated Ksh 997.5 billion or 5.7 percent of GDP in FY 2024/25. The fiscal deficit for the FY 2025/26 budget will be financed by net external borrowing of Ksh 287.7 billion equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP and net domestic borrowing of Ksh 635.5 billion, which is equivalent to 3.3 percent of GDP,” CS Mbadi said.