Wamuzi News Ke
The National Treasury has slashed a staggering Ksh23.97 billion from Kenya’s 2025/2026 national budget, setting off ripple effects across key government departments and ministries.
Dubbed the “Hustler Budget,” the national spending plan has been trimmed from Ksh4.263 trillion to Ksh4.24 trillion, as President William Ruto’s administration bows to pressure and rolls out sweeping austerity measures. Sources confirm the government now plans to borrow Ksh1.9 trillion to bridge the gap.
Treasury CS John Mbadi revealed that only Ksh4.67 billion has been allocated for civil service wages, while Ksh235 billion is set aside for pensions and gratuities raising eyebrows across the public sector.
Shockingly, the Treasury itself is among the biggest losers, suffering a Ksh6.97 billion cut. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) isn’t spared either, with its funding slashed by Ksh4.2 billion, down to Ksh51.45 billion from Ksh55.65 billion.
Even the Executive Office of the President isn’t immune its budget drops by Ksh3.4 billion, falling from Ksh4.491 billion to Ksh3.88 billion.
The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services takes a hit too, losing Ksh1.2 billion, while a few departments including Defence, Police, Education, and Health emerge as rare winners in this financial storm.
But one of the most shocking developments? The IEBC budget has exploded, nearly tripling from Ksh3.85 billion to a jaw-dropping Ksh9.6 billion, a move widely seen as gearing up for the 2027 general elections.
This drastic budget revision follows a Cabinet directive to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP, down from 5.3% in 2023/24 an adjustment made under mounting pressure from global lenders like the IMF and World Bank.
All eyes are now on Parliament, where the revised budget will be debated and either approved or contested ahead of the new fiscal year kicking off on July 1.
Adiedo Lentitus
