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The Kenyan government has released its budget plans for the 2025/26 financial year, and many people are worried.
The government wants to spend more money than it will collect, which means it will borrow a lot to fill the gap.
This could lead to more debt and put pressure on ordinary citizens, especially those who are already struggling.
Several important public services are facing big cuts. The school feeding programme, which helps millions of children get meals at school, will receive less money.
The free maternity programme, known as Linda Mama, will not get any funding this year.
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Many poor mothers depend on this service to give birth safely.
The fertilizer subsidy, which helps farmers lower their costs, will also be reduced.
This comes at a time when food prices are still high across the country.
At the same time, the government wants to raise more money by changing tax rules.
Items like medicine, animal feed, solar panels, and electric vehicles may no longer be tax-free. This means they will cost more.
Businesses may also lose the ability to get tax refunds on some materials they use to produce goods.
This could make products more expensive and hurt small businesses.
While most people will feel the impact of these changes, some wealthy individuals and high-level government officials will benefit.
The government plans to lower taxes in special economic zones and increase allowances for top officials.
This has raised concerns about fairness, especially when low-income workers are being asked to pay more.
To make things worse, the government is creating new offices and departments, even though there are already similar ministries in place.
These new offices will cost more to run, and many Kenyans are asking whether they are truly needed.
Some believe these new departments are just being created to reward political allies.
Civil society groups and economic experts have raised their voices against the proposed budget.
They say it puts too much pressure on poor families and does not do enough to support basic needs like health, food, and education.
They also worry that the country’s focus is shifting away from fairness and support for all, toward benefits for a few.
As the debate over the Finance Bill continues, many Kenyans hope that the government will listen to their concerns and make changes that protect the most vulnerable.
For now, it looks like ordinary people may have to prepare for even harder times ahead.
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