National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has urged Gen Zs to familiarize themselves with the budget estimates and the Finance Bill 2025 to understand the upcoming financial year. During an interactive session on Friday, Mbadi emphasized to the youth that the bill is progressive and designed to foster economic growth without overburdening Kenyans.

Mbadi stressed the importance of understanding the national budget beyond its role as a balance sheet, highlighting it as a nation-building tool. He explained that the budget strategically allocates resources to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security, all essential for the country’s socio-economic advancement.

Defending the government’s budgetary allocation to the security sector, Mbadi asserted its crucial role in maintaining an economically sound government. He stated that investments in national security create a stable environment conducive to investment, tourism, and smooth business operations. By ensuring safety and stability, security measures contribute to investor confidence and enable economic activities across various sectors.

Mbadi also clarified the distinction between the budget and the Finance Bill, explaining that the Finance Bill, not the budget, directly impacts the cost of essential commodities like bread. This clarification aimed to dispel misconceptions about the sources of price changes.

Throughout the session, CS Mbadi underscored the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in the budgeting process. By engaging directly with the youth, the Treasury aims to foster trust in the government and its processes, particularly after last year’s widespread protests, which included the invasion of Parliament and resulted in the deaths of over 50 Kenyans.