Mbadi schedules 2025/26 budget statement unveiling for June 12

National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has confirmed that the 2025/26 budget statement, along with key revenue-raising strategies, will be unveiled on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

During a media interview with Family TV on April 18, 2025, Mbadi disclosed that the date was settled upon after consultations with fellow finance ministers from the East African region during a recent meeting in Uganda.

"I proposed June 12 as the date for reading our national budgets, and my counterparts were in agreement. Interestingly, the idea was originally floated by Tanzania’s finance minister," he shared.

He further explained that the day will focus primarily on presenting the major budget policy directions and key revenue strategies, which are vital elements of the government’s fiscal framework.

"By the time I walk into Parliament with the budget briefcase, the public will already be familiar with the proposed tax measures through the Finance Bill," Mbadi noted.

Mbadi also shed light on the budget approval timeline, stressing that the government is constitutionally required to have the Appropriation Bill—legislation that authorizes government spending—approved by Parliament and signed into law by the President no later than June 30, 2025.

"In the event the President hasn’t assented to the Appropriation Bill by June 30, a vote on account is triggered, allowing limited government expenditure while awaiting the President’s approval," said Mbadi.

"Previously, the vote on account used to be given even before the bill was passed. But that changed with the current constitution. We have since affirmed that the vote on account can only be granted after the bill is passed but before assent by the president."

In an earlier address delivered on February 13, 2025, CS Mbadi provided an update on the Finance Bill 2025, revealing that the projected national budget for the 2025/26 financial year stands at Sh4.2 trillion.

He noted that the Treasury had already launched public participation initiatives as part of the budget formulation process, highlighting that the Finance Bill is a constitutional obligation anchored in Chapter 12.

"Many Kenyans have questioned why we must have a Finance Bill every year. Chapter 12 of the Constitution mandates it. What’s not mandatory is that it must contain tax hikes—it may propose increases, reductions, or even maintain existing rates, but a Finance Bill must be tabled, however minimal," Mbadi explained.

In response to public concerns following the controversial 2024 Finance Bill—which was eventually withdrawn after widespread protests—Mbadi assured that the government is taking a more measured and realistic approach for the upcoming fiscal cycle.

"We are becoming more realistic in our approach to revenue collection in the year 2025/26. We had a figure of Ksh3 trillion and Ksh18 billion on ordinary revenue, but we have revised downwards," he stated.

"It shows the Treasury is walking the talk. We have not just been over-projecting revenue without taking action."