Mbadi's tough act amid mounting debt, revenue shortfalls and angry Kenyans

The National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet SecretaryJohn Mbadi during the launch of Economic Survey 2025 when it was revealed that the economy had registered 4.7 growth at the Kenyatta Convention Center, Nairobi on May 6th, 2025. [Standard, Kanyiri Wahito]

The concerns over mounting debt, underfunding of critical services, joblessness, and failure by the Kenya Revenue Authority to meet revenue targets are among the things National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi will address in his maiden budget speech today afternoon.

There is also dejection among Kenyans, 75 per cent of whom, according to a recent TIFA report, feel they are worse off economically today than they were a few years back due to over taxation and not getting value for money in public service delivery.