Moses Kuria, President William Ruto’s senior economic advisor, has issued a stern warning to Kenya’s presidential aspirants, urging them to fully grasp the financial complexities they would face if elected. Kuria’s comments shed light on the country’s daunting fiscal challenges, emphasizing that many of the candidates may not understand the gravity of the situation they would inherit.
In a detailed analysis of Kenya’s 2025-2026 budget, Kuria highlighted the significant strain placed on the nation’s finances due to past decisions. He pointed out that a staggering Sh1.3 trillion of the Sh4.2 trillion budget is dedicated to debt servicing and pensions. This, he explained, is a non-negotiable expense, a consequence of Kenya’s “thoughtless expansionism” in the past. Such large financial obligations leave little room for maneuvering, forcing any future government to prioritize debt repayment over other initiatives.
Beyond debt, Kuria also raised concerns about recurrent expenditures. A large chunk of the budget Sh1.7 trillion is allocated to running the National Government, with Sh680 billion going to civil servant salaries. He warned that efforts to reform the bloated and inefficient civil service would face immense challenges, particularly with the risk of public unrest from those defending government workers’ interests.
Kuria also scrutinized the government’s social programs, which he suggested are unsustainable and could be viewed as leaning towards communism. Initiatives like Free Education, subsidized fertilizers, and healthcare cost the government Sh700 billion, further straining the budget. Additionally, Sh400 billion is earmarked for parastatals, which often fail to deliver results, exacerbating concerns about fiscal responsibility.
Finally, Kuria highlighted the allocation of Sh471 billion for counties, emphasizing that any questioning of this expenditure could be seen as an attack on devolution. With just Sh291 billion left for development representing a mere 6.9% of the total budget presidential candidates face an uphill battle in balancing the demands of governance and addressing the country’s financial limitations.
Kuria concluded by wishing all presidential hopefuls the best, acknowledging the tough road ahead as they prepare to tackle these challenges.
