OPPOSITION UNVEILS 'PEOPLE'S BUDGET', SLAMS RUTO'S KSh4.82 TRILLION SPENDING PLAN

By Sonia Mitchel

Kenya's opposition coalition, the United Alternative Government, has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto's proposed KSh4.82 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, unveiling what it calls a "People's Budget" aimed at easing the burden on ordinary citizens and redirecting government priorities.

Led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the coalition—which includes former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi—accused the government of pursuing a debt-fueled economic agenda that threatens Kenya's future.

Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, Kalonzo described the government's spending proposal as the largest budget in the country's history but argued that it fails to address the pressing needs of Kenyans.

"I have been in public service for over four decades. I have sat at Cabinet tables, at the Office of the Vice President and peace negotiations. I have seen Kenya at its best and I have seen what bad governance does to a people who deserve so much better than they have been given," Kalonzo said.

The opposition leader delivered a scathing critique of the budget, accusing the government of imposing unnecessary hardships on citizens.

"Nothing, though, in all these years of public life, has prepared me for the cruelty of this budget. Because that is what it is—not just incompetence and miscalculation, but cruelty," he stated.

According to the coalition, the proposed expenditure significantly exceeds projected revenues, creating a deficit that will require additional borrowing. Opposition leaders warned that continued reliance on debt risks burdening future generations with obligations they neither negotiated nor benefited from.

Kalonzo described the growing public debt as "generational slavery," saying Kenya's youth would ultimately shoulder the cost of unsustainable borrowing.

The coalition also questioned the allocation of KSh1.5 trillion toward debt servicing and pensions, arguing that essential sectors such as education and healthcare continue to receive inadequate funding.

"To put that in language every Kenyan understands, interest on domestic debt alone costs more than the entire education budget. We are spending more on paying bankers than on teaching children," Kalonzo said.

Education emerged as a key pillar of the opposition's alternative plan, with leaders calling for increased funding to guarantee genuinely free education from primary through secondary school.

"Free means free. All the way from Class One to Form Four. For every Kenyan child," he declared.

The coalition further linked rising cases of student unrest and school fires to insufficient investment in student welfare, mental health support, and school safety infrastructure.

On healthcare, opposition leaders renewed their criticism of the Social Health Authority (SHA), arguing that many Kenyans continue to face barriers in accessing quality medical services despite mandatory contributions.

"SHA, in its current form, is not a health policy. It is a compulsory tax with a hospital logo," Kalonzo said.

The coalition also rejected several proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2026, including taxes affecting mobile money transactions and mobile phone users, saying the measures would increase the cost of living for millions of households.

Among the proposals outlined in the People's Budget are increased allocations to education and healthcare, expanded youth employment programs, restoration of social protection initiatives, and measures to reduce government expenditure while improving revenue collection efficiency.

Addressing Members of Parliament ahead of debates on the budget and Finance Bill, Kalonzo challenged legislators to put citizens before political interests.

"You were not elected to be a rubber stamp," he told lawmakers, urging them to reject policies that would negatively affect ordinary Kenyans.

The unveiling of the People's Budget marks a significant escalation in political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, as opposition leaders seek to present themselves as a credible alternative government while intensifying criticism of the administration's economic policies.