“WE LISTENED TO KENYANS” Mbadi Defends 2026/27 Budget, Reveals How Citizens, Youth, Boda Boda Riders and Mitumba Traders Helped Shape Government Spending Plan, Dismisses Claims of Education Funding Cuts as ‘Misleading Propaganda’

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the government's 2026/27 budget-making process, insisting that the spending plan reflects the views and proposals of ordinary Kenyans gathered through extensive public participation exercises conducted across the country.

Speaking ahead of the official presentation of the national budget on Thursday, Mbadi said the National Treasury had made a deliberate effort to involve citizens, business groups, youth organizations, and informal sector players in shaping the country's financial priorities.

The Treasury boss noted that the government went beyond the minimum constitutional and legal requirements for public participation, arguing that the process was designed to make the budget more transparent and responsive to the needs of citizens.

According to Mbadi, one of his key promises upon assuming office in 2024 was to transform the National Treasury from what many perceived as a closed institution into one that actively engages the public in decision-making.

He said the budget preparation process began in September 2025 and involved several stages, including the development of budget review papers, policy statements, parliamentary consultations, and public engagement forums held in different parts of the country.

To gather public views, Mbadi said he personally visited several counties, including Migori, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Embu, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Kilifi. During the tours, he met citizens from diverse backgrounds and listened to their proposals on how government resources should be allocated.

The CS revealed that the Treasury also engaged specific groups that are often overlooked in national policy discussions. These included boda boda operators, mitumba traders, youth organizations, and workers in the informal sector.

According to Mbadi, the consultations generated numerous memorandums and recommendations, some of which were incorporated into the final budget proposals and revenue measures expected to guide government spending during the next financial year.

"The views we received were valuable and helped inform some of the decisions reflected in the budget," Mbadi said, emphasizing that public participation remains a cornerstone of sound financial management.

The Treasury chief also used the opportunity to address concerns that the government was reducing funding to the education sector. He dismissed the claims as misleading and politically motivated, maintaining that education remains one of the largest beneficiaries of government expenditure.

Mbadi pointed to figures showing that education funding has increased significantly over the last five years. He noted that the allocation has risen from KSh526 billion in the 2021/22 financial year to KSh784.5 billion in the 2026/27 budget.

He further highlighted increased funding to the Teachers Service Commission, which he attributed to the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and improved remuneration for education personnel across the country.

On school capitation, Mbadi explained that government support for secondary schools and junior secondary institutions has expanded considerably. He said combined funding for the two levels of education now stands at approximately KSh86 billion, representing a substantial increase from previous allocations.