Kenya’s newly unveiled national budget for 2025/26 has sparked widespread concern and criticism, prioritising presidential and security spending while imposing significant cuts on critical public services such as health and education.
Experts and lawmakers warn this signals “hard times ahead” for ordinary Kenyans who rely on these essential sectors.
The stark contrast in allocations is undeniable. The Executive Office of the President received a massive boost, with total expenditure rising to Sh53 billion—a Sh1.5 billion increase from last year’s Sh51.5 billion.
Specific vote heads within the Presidency saw substantial hikes, including General Administration, Planning and Support Services, which jumped from Sh1.85 billion to nearly Sh2.5 billion.
Security services also fared well. The National Police Service (NPS) budget rose to Sh125.3 billion (up from Sh115.4 billion), with specific increases for the Kenya Police, Administration Police, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Counter-Terrorism Advisory Services alone saw an increase to Sh63.5 million from Sh500,000.
Meanwhile, sectors fundamental to national development and citizen well-being face austerity measures:
Education: Suffered deep cuts. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) allocation dropped to Sh8.5 billion from Sh9.3 billion. Funding for Free Primary Education was slashed to Sh22 billion from Sh26 billion. Overall, primary education funding declined by Sh6 billion—from Sh32 billion to Sh26 billion.
Health: Key programmes lost ground. Funding for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control was reduced to Sh3 billion from Sh4.1 billion. Research and Innovation in Health saw its allocation cut to Sh680.4 million from Sh787.9 million. While some areas, such as Disease Surveillance, received increases, the overall trend for essential public health services has raised alarms.
Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu condemned the allocations, calling them “misplaced priorities.” He argued that the budget strategically strengthens the ruling administration’s re-election prospects while neglecting sectors that benefit ordinary citizens.
“Looking at the critical issues affecting citizens, how much money has gone to the education sector? The money that touches the mwananchi (citizen) is not much,” Mulu stated. He pointed out that the recurrent budget for the President and Deputy President—Sh11 billion—alone exceeds the Sh8 billion needed to fully absorb Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff.
Mulu further advocated for redirecting funds to stimulate the private sector, asserting that a thriving private economy is key to job creation and household income.
“Money benefiting the mwananchi should be promoting a conducive environment for the private sector. If the private sector is doing well, it will employ more people—and we’ll have more money in our pockets.”
Financial experts echoed concerns about the budget’s feasibility and potential impact. Liban Guyo, Deputy Director of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), labelled the Sh4.2 trillion budget “overambitious.”
He warned that the projected revenue shortfall—with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) expected to collect Sh2.75 trillion—would inevitably lead to increased borrowing (both domestic and external) and higher government service fees, further burdening Kenyans already facing a “harsh economy.”
The budget’s emphasis on bolstering the executive and security apparatus, coupled with cuts to health and education, paints a grim picture for millions of Kenyans dependent on public schools and hospitals—signalling genuinely harder times ahead.
– By Nusurah Nuhu
