Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Established under Article 228 of the Constitution, the Office of the Controller of Budget oversees the implementation of budgets by both levels of government and authorises withdrawals from public funds.
Mohamed linked the debt issue to broader governance concerns, saying financial mismanagement has weakened service delivery and public trust
Rigathi Gachgua argued that the government's projected expenditure of Sh4.82 trillion was disconnected from the realities facing ordinary citizens
Of the Sh2.31 trillion earmarked for debt servicing, Sh1.25 trillion, representing 54 per cent, will be used to pay interest on loans while Sh1.06 trillion will go towards repayment of the principal debt.
New official data shows public debt rose by Sh533 billion between December and March, increasing from Sh12.29 trillion to Sh12.83 trillion during the period.
In a statement on Monday, Otieno argued that rising taxation, expanding debt obligations, and slowing economic productivity are placing increasing pressure on households, businesses, and long-term national development planning.
Data from the Public Debt Management Office shows that Kenya’s total public debt stands at about Sh12.32 trillion, with the debt-to-GDP ratio at 65.7 per cent.
Speaking during a TV interview on Sunday, Wanjigi said the country was nearing economic collapse, warning that rising debt repayments were consuming nearly all government revenue and deepening poverty nationwide.
Achoka said Kenya needs a structured national dialogue to ensure governance choices reflect the lived realities of citizens. He argued that the idea of national interest should not be separated from public welfare.
Revenue projections stand at Sh3.63 trillion from ordinary collections and Sh644 billion from Appropriation-in-Aid. This leaves a funding gap of Sh1.11 trillion, which the government plans to cover through borrowing—Sh995.7 billion from the local market and Sh145.6 billion from external sources.
According to the 2026 Annual National Shadow Budget, the government borrowed a net Sh1.03 trillion in the 2024-25 financial year, but only Sh582.9 billion was channelled towards development expenditure. This gap has sparked concern over whether borrowing is delivering meaningful long-term benefits.
According to Mbadi, governments across the continent are being forced to carefully juggle between funding development projects and managing strained budgets. He pointed to global financial conditions that have made borrowing “more expensive, less predictable and restrictive for developing economies,” adding further pressure on already stretched public finances.