Budget 2025/26: Education, security, and infrastructure among top winners

The national government has unveiled a Ksh.4.29 trillion budget for the 2025/26 financial year, with education, national security, and infrastructure emerging as the biggest beneficiaries.

The education sector received the largest allocation, with Ksh.702.7 billion set aside. This includes Ksh.387.2 billion for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Ksh.58.9 billion for free primary and secondary education, and Ksh.58.5 billion for higher education loans and scholarships.

The security sector was allocated Ksh.464.9 billion, with funds directed towards the operations of the National Police Service, the Kenya Defence Forces, and the National Intelligence Service.

The allocation includes Ksh.10 billion for leasing police vehicles, Ksh.3.6 billion for modernization programmes, and Ksh.1.1 billion for the construction of national forensic facilities.

County governments will receive Ksh.474.9 billion, with Ksh.405.1 billion as equitable share and the rest through conditional allocations from the national government and development partners.

Infrastructure development was also prioritized, receiving Ksh.318.1 billion for roads, railways, air transport, and energy. Out of this, Ksh.217.3 billion will go towards road maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction, while Ksh.62.8 billion has been earmarked for energy projects.

The health sector has been allocated Ksh.133.4 billion, with funding directed towards hospitals, emergency care, vaccines, and the rollout of Universal Health Coverage.

The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) will receive Ksh.18.7 billion, Global Fund (Ksh.Ksh.17.3 billion), Primary healthcare fund (Ksh.13.1 billion), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Ksh.10.8 billion) while a further Ksh.8 billion has been allocated to the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

President William Ruto’s affordable housing programme received Ksh.120.2 billion, including Ksh.64.5 billion for the construction of affordable units and Ksh.10.5 billion for social housing projects.

In agriculture, Ksh.47.6 billion was set aside to support farmers through input subsidies, value chain development, and food security initiatives.

Meanwhile, Ksh.41.3 billion was allocated to social protection programmes, including cash transfers to elderly persons, orphans, and vulnerable groups.