NAIROBI — A Kenyan lawmaker has criticised the government’s new budget, claiming it is designed to help President William Ruto secure re-election rather than meet the urgent needs of the people.
Makali Mulu, the MP for Kitui Central, says the 2025/26 budget has failed to prioritise struggling sectors like health and education. Speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday morning, Mulu called the budget “an Executive document,” arguing that its main goal is to strengthen the ruling coalition’s political base ahead of the 2027 polls.
“In any budget, the Executive will push its political agenda,” Mulu said. “But this one leans heavily on projects that will support the government to get re-elected.”
The national government has been allocated a hefty Ksh.2.54 trillion, while education — a sector many say is under immense pressure — will receive Ksh.700.9 billion. A further Ksh.150 million has been set aside to service a social media monitoring system, raising eyebrows among critics who see it as a tool for surveillance rather than public service.
Mulu believes this kind of spending misses the mark.
“When you look at how much money directly benefits the ordinary Kenyan — the mwananchi — it’s very little,” he said. “Instead of pumping billions into the presidency, that money should be improving hospitals and schools, or supporting the private sector to grow jobs.”
He drew a sharp comparison between the presidency’s recurrent budget, which stands at Ksh.11 billion, and the Ksh.8 billion needed to fully absorb staff under the government’s Universal Health Coverage programme. Only Ksh.4 billion has been allocated for that purpose.
“If we can find Ksh.11 billion for the President and his deputy, why can’t we fully fund healthcare workers?” he asked.
The budget tabled before Parliament by the Budget and Appropriations Committee has stirred debate across the political divide. While security services appear to benefit — with the National Police Service potentially receiving an extra Ksh.1.8 billion and the Inspector General’s office gaining Ksh.800 million — education and disability services are facing deep cuts.
The Teachers Service Commission will lose Ksh.570 million. Training for teachers is being slashed by Ksh.620 million. The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya has been defunded by Ksh.400 million.
University education is taking a hit of Ksh.920 million, while primary schools will receive Ksh.405 million less. Secondary and junior secondary institutions are facing a combined Ksh.5 billion reduction in capitation.
So far, there’s been little public response from the Treasury. Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is expected to deliver the final budget statement once Parliament debates the report.
For now, critics like Mulu are sounding the alarm, calling on fellow MPs to amend the estimates before it’s too late.
“We must remember that budgets are not just numbers. They show who and what a government truly values,” he said.
Whether Parliament will push back or pass the proposals as they are remains to be seen.
