NAIROBI, Kenya — The Okoa Uchumi Campaign Coalition has raised concerns over Kenya’s proposed Sh4.82 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, warning that it exceeds fiscal limits amid rising public debt and declining public services.
In a statement issued on May 21, 2026, the coalition described the budget as a “terrifying contradiction” between government spending levels and the reality faced by citizens struggling with basic services such as healthcare and education.
“We are witnessing a terrifying contradiction: a government that tables an astronomical budget for the Financial Year FY 2026/27 of Sh4.82 trillion, brazenly exceeding its own Budget Policy Statement ceiling by Sh69.3 billion, even as basic services like healthcare and public education rapidly decline,” the group said.
The coalition questioned the financing structure of the budget, noting that Sh2.986 trillion is expected to come from taxation. It termed the projection overly optimistic, citing slowing economic growth and uncertainty in revenue performance.
It further warned of a widening fiscal deficit exceeding Sh1.1 trillion, with domestic borrowing projected at Sh995.7 billion—nearly 90 per cent of total borrowing for the year.
According to the group, this heavy reliance on domestic borrowing could strain the financial system and crowd out private sector lending, slowing economic activity.
“To finance this insatiable appetite for spending, the state has resorted to predatory tax surveillance, unchecked high-handedness, and blatant systemic corruption,” the coalition said, calling for stronger accountability in public finance management.
The coalition also pointed to inefficiencies and alleged corruption in key sectors, including health and education, which it described as “mega-heists” draining public resources without matching service delivery improvements.
It urged the government to rein in spending, strengthen fiscal discipline, and ensure borrowing is directed toward development rather than recurrent expenditure.
The group further called for enhanced transparency and oversight in public finance management, especially in healthcare, education, and energy sectors.
“We condemn the government’s rising intolerance and violence against citizens who raise legitimate concerns, even as the real perpetrators of economic crimes walk free with absolute impunity,” the statement added.
