National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed have jointly dismissed the opposition’s alternative budget proposal, accusing its architects of misleading Kenyans and failing to appreciate changes introduced under the 2010 Constitution.
The two parliamentary leaders were responding to the United Opposition’s presentation of an alternative Ksh4.3 trillion budget, unveiled as a counterproposal to the government’s Ksh4.85 trillion spending plan for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Speaking after the opposition's presentation, Ichung’wah argued that some opposition figures were operating under outdated assumptions about Kenya’s budget-making process. He specifically criticized former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, claiming they were still anchored in the pre-2010 constitutional framework.
According to the Majority Leader, the Constitution fundamentally changed how national budgets are prepared and approved, reducing the role of the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to presenting policy highlights, revenue proposals and expenditure priorities rather than personally determining the contents of the budget.
He maintained that budget formulation, scrutiny and approval are now legally vested in Parliament, particularly the National Assembly, through established constitutional and legislative procedures.
Minority Leader Junet Mohamed echoed the sentiments, accusing government critics of recycling arguments that had featured in previous debates surrounding the Finance Bill and annual budget estimates. He argued that some opposition leaders were intentionally creating confusion among citizens regarding the distinction between the Finance Bill and the national budget process.
Junet further defended Parliament’s handling of the 2026/2027 budget, insisting that adequate public participation had already been conducted before the estimates were finalized. He said the process complied with constitutional requirements and reflected contributions from various stakeholders.
The opposition’s alternative budget sought to offer a different fiscal direction and challenge key priorities contained in the government's spending plan. Opposition leaders have argued that their proposal would better address the cost of living, unemployment and economic inequality.
However, parliamentary leadership dismissed the proposal as politically driven and lacking legal standing within the formal budget-making process.
The exchange highlights the growing political contest over economic policy ahead of future electoral battles, with both government and opposition leaders seeking to position themselves as the most credible stewards of Kenya’s economy.
Source Attributed: The Standard