Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has promised to cut taxes and curb government waste if elected president in 2027. He says as much as Sh1.8 trillion could be saved through budget cuts.
The Linda Mwananchi presidential aspirant outlined the proposals in an interview published on October 9, 2026. They include removing VAT on fuel, scrapping the housing levy and lowering VAT on electricity.
Sifuna also pledged to improve public services. Hospitals would be paid within 30 days, while a national database of schools would be created to improve oversight of education funding.
A Plan to Cut Taxes
Sifuna said a team of experts had advised him that a balanced budget could be achieved within 15 months. This, he said, would require wasteful spending to be identified and removed.
He estimated that between Sh500 billion and Sh1.8 trillion could be saved. However, he did not provide a detailed public breakdown of the proposed cuts in the interview.
The scale of the savings would depend on which budget items were targeted and how the changes were implemented. The proposals would also need to be assessed against the cost of removing the taxes.
School Funding Under Scrutiny
In education, Sifuna proposed creating a national database of schools and learners. He argued that better records would help the government track enrolment and monitor the use of public funds.
“The first thing we want to do is to have a national data bank so Kenyans can know how many students we have,” he said.
He alleged that gaps in education data had made it harder to track school capitation funds. No supporting figures were provided in the interview to quantify the alleged losses.
Hospitals Promised Payment Within 30 Days
In healthcare, Sifuna said hospitals should be paid within 30 days for services delivered. He argued that delays in settling claims had placed providers under financial pressure.
“We will give all hospitals in Kenya a guarantee that as far as you render a service, 30 days, we pay you,” he said.
He also warned that providers found submitting fraudulent claims would be removed from the system. The proposal would require clear verification procedures to ensure legitimate claims were paid on time while fraud was addressed.
Sifuna Steps Up Attack on Ruto
Sifuna also criticised President William Ruto, describing his administration as a failure. His remarks followed previous criticism from the president, who had described the senator as “empty”.
Sifuna said the government should not be judged solely by projects such as the Talanta Stadium. Greater transparency and accountability, he argued, were needed.
“There is no greater failure than betraying your oath of office,” he said.
His remarks form part of a growing political dispute as parties and aspirants position themselves ahead of the 2027 election. Ruto’s response to Sifuna’s latest proposals was not included in the interview.
Party Rebrand Ahead of 2027
Sifuna also said plans were under way to rename The Equitable Party (TEP) as Linda Mwananchi. He said the party’s National Executive Committee had approved the change and that the proposed amendments had been submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties.
The rebranding, he said, would prepare the movement for the 2027 election campaign. The proposed name change remains subject to the applicable registration process.
Sifuna’s promises place tax relief, public spending, education records and healthcare payments at the centre of his political pitch. Their feasibility will depend on the details of the budget cuts, the cost of the tax changes and the measures adopted to deliver the proposed reforms.
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