Security was heightened around the National Treasury in Nairobi on Thursday morning ahead of the much-anticipated budget reading for the 2025/26 financial year. Police officers were seen patrolling the vicinity, ensuring safety and order as final preparations for the budget presentation got underway.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is set to deliver his maiden budget speech at Parliament Buildings. This will be his first major fiscal policy address since assuming the role of the second Finance Minister under the Kenya Kwanza administration. His presentation comes at a time when Kenyans are closely watching how the government intends to address economic challenges, including rising public debt and the high cost of living.
The National Treasury has proposed a record Sh4.2 trillion expenditure plan for the upcoming financial year. To finance this ambitious budget, the government will rely on a combination of domestic revenue, external grants, and borrowing. A key highlight is the projected budget deficit of Sh876 billion, which the government plans to plug through borrowing Sh592 billion from the domestic market and Sh284 billion externally.
Among the biggest beneficiaries of the proposed budget is the Ministry of Defence, reflecting the administration’s continued investment in national security amid both internal and regional threats. While specific figures for the ministry have not yet been publicly detailed, insiders indicate a significant boost in allocations geared toward modernization, recruitment, and enhanced operational capacity.
The budget also underscores the government’s strategy of balancing service delivery with fiscal discipline. Revenue mobilization will focus on enhancing tax compliance, rationalizing government fees, and attracting concessional financing. Mbadi is expected to outline key allocations across critical sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture, amid growing public demand for improved services and accountability.
As the budget is read, all eyes will be on how the government plans to manage debt levels, spur economic growth, and cushion vulnerable populations. The reading marks a defining moment for the Kenya Kwanza administration’s economic agenda and could shape public perception heading into the next fiscal year.
