Treasury CS Mbadi dismisses opposition's ‘People’s Budget’ as recycled Gov't figures

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed claims by the United Opposition over a credible alternative budget called the 'People's Budget', saying credible budget proposals must be backed by independent analysis and detailed planning. 

Speaking during a post-budget briefing at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, Mbadi accused opposition leaders of recycling figures from the government’s own budget and Finance Bill while branding them as alternative proposals.

“But I am leaving it to Kenyans to hold leaders who just make sweeping statements and who sometimes pick my figures, remove a few data from my figures, take my Finance Bill and claim to be providing an alternative budget,” Mbadi stated.

“If you want to provide an alternative budget, have your people also do simulations. You will not manage the country, God forbid, if you become President with my data, because I will not be there to supply the data for you,” he added.

The Treasury CS further dismissed the opposition’s proposals as poorly prepared.

“In fact, in my language they say preparing budget ya kalongolongo. Wawachane na hizo budget za kalongolongo. Let them critique our budget and tell us where it is not making sense," he said,

His remarks come a day after the opposition coalition unveiled the “People’s Budget", an alternative budget that they said prioritises key sectors such as education, healthcare, job creation and lowering the cost of living while reducing the country’s fiscal deficit.

In a joint statement read by Kalonzo Musyoka, the opposition accused President William Ruto’s administration of presiding over what it described as a fiscally reckless, debt-ridden and anti-poor economic agenda.

The coalition’s proposed “People’s Budget” includes increased allocations for education and healthcare, restoration of programmes such as Linda Mama and Edu Afya, an Ksh.80 billion youth employment initiative and the abolition of the Affordable Housing Levy.

The opposition also proposed reducing expenditure at State House and the National Intelligence Service and redirecting the funds towards irrigation and food security projects.

“We came to write a different budget entirely, one built on the principle that in the Republic of Kenya, the government serves the people, not the other way around,” Kalonzo stated.