National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has a message for Kenya’s Gen Z: don’t wait to be blindsided by the Finance Bill study it, question it, understand it.
Speaking in a candid engagement with young people on Friday, Mbadi urged the youth to take ownership of the national conversation around the upcoming Finance Bill 2025 and the wider budget estimates.
“Before you fall into panic over my Finance Bill 2025, I want you to first understand it,” he told the crowd, blending a casual Kiswahili phrase with a serious tone. “It’s more than figures on paper it’s the heartbeat of the country’s development agenda.”
Mbadi insisted that the bill is not designed to squeeze Kenyans, but to lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth. He called the proposal “progressive,” and stressed that it allocates resources to essential areas like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and national security.
“The budget isn’t just an economic formality it’s a strategic tool for nation-building,” he said. “It determines how we prioritize our future.”
Addressing criticism around heavy security spending, Mbadi defended the allocations, framing them not as excessive, but essential. A strong security sector, he argued, forms the foundation of a thriving economy.
“Security is what gives businesses the confidence to grow. It invites investment, supports tourism, and lets the economy breathe,” he said. “Without it, no amount of funding to other sectors would make sense.”
He also made a point to clear up a widespread misconception among many Kenyans especially younger ones about the distinction between the national budget and the Finance Bill.
“The budget doesn’t increase the cost of bread. That’s the Finance Bill’s job,” Mbadi explained, drawing laughter from the crowd but underscoring a serious point: policy impacts daily life, and it’s critical to understand how.
His appeal was simple: don’t dismiss the budget and Finance Bill as government documents for economists and politicians. They affect every citizen especially the youth, who will bear the future consequences of today’s fiscal choices.
