Tension Grips Parliament as CS John Mbadi Unveils Kshs. 4.2 Trillion Budget Amid Youth Protests
By Gladys Yator,
A storm of youthful outrage swept across the Nairobi CBD today as Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi delivered his inaugural Kshs. 4.2 trillion budget before a tightly controlled National Assembly, his speech shadowed by protests over the mysterious death of popular blogger Albert Ojwang.
Inside the chamber, the atmosphere was tense. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula laid down strict ground rules, urging lawmakers to maintain total silence throughout the presentation. “Only foot stamping is allowed, no clapping, no verbal applause,” the Speaker firmly directed, signaling the weight of the moment and the seriousness with which the House would receive the landmark budget.
Outside Parliament, the capital city of Nairobi simmered with unrest. As Mbadi outlined the government’s economic blueprint under the theme “Stimulating Economic Recovery”, jobless youth took to the streets, lighting bonfires at various corners of the Central Business District. Thick smoke mingled with frustration as the demonstrators chanted for freedom of expression, claiming their space to speak out was shrinking by the day.
The CBD was cloaked in gray, both from tear gas and a heavy security presence. Riot police clashed with protesters in running battles, the city echoing with sirens and defiance. In a tense game of cat and mouse, demonstrators weaved through alleyways and bus stops, evading arrests as they pressed on with their demands for justice and economic dignity.
Unfazed at the podium but acknowledging the challenges, CS Mbadi admitted the budget had been crafted under difficult global conditions. He blamed the “hostile environment” on the ripple effects of steep trade tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which he said disrupted key international trade relations and pressured the country’s economic recovery efforts.
As Kenya charts a path forward, today’s events painted a picture of a country grappling with a crisis of confidence, from its restless youth on the streets to its leaders in Parliament seeking to restore economic hope.
While presenting the national budget, Cabinet Secretary Hon. Mbadi stated that although the government remains committed to providing free basic education, it is developing a policy that would introduce cost-sharing in the payment of examination fees for families that can afford it. This proposal has elicited mixed reactions from the public. Some Kenyans argue that the policy contravenes Article 27 of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, which prohibits discrimination based on socioeconomic status.
Critics contend that such forms of discrimination are increasingly being embedded in government policies under the pretext of assessing citizens’ financial capacity to contribute toward basic public services such as health and education.
