Lawyer Willis Otieno Criticises 2026/27 Budget Over Rising Cost of Living Pressure

Lawyer Willis Otieno

Constitutional lawyer and governance analyst Willis Otieno has criticised the 2026/27 national budget. He argued that the spending plan ignores ordinary Kenyans struggling with the high cost of living.

Otieno issued the statement on his official X account on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. He said the budget prioritises government expenditure over citizens’ welfare.

Otieno said the budget reflects a system focused on fiscal commitments instead of public needs. He argued that households continue to face rising economic pressure without meaningful relief.

He added that many Kenyans already struggle with inflation and unemployment. He said the budget increases pressure instead of easing financial burdens.

2026/27 Budget Breakdown

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented a Ksh4.82 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year. The government said it aims to boost growth, expand services, and strengthen key sectors.

Education received the largest allocation at Ksh781.4 billion. Health received Ksh175.5 billion to support Universal Health Coverage and essential medical services.

County governments will receive Ksh428 billion as their equitable share of revenue. The Equalisation Fund received Ksh10.25 billion to support marginalised areas.

Otieno argued that the budget does not reflect the daily struggles of citizens. He said rising food prices and unemployment remain major challenges for households.

He criticised the government for prioritising expenditure over accountability. He said national spending should focus more on people’s needs.

Ordinary Kenyans are being asked, once again, to tighten belts that are already at breaking point, not to build a shared future, but to sustain a fiscal architecture that increasingly feels self-serving and detached from lived reality.

The 2026/27 budget does not reflect a…

— Willis Evans Otieno (@otienowill) June 16, 2026

Government Defends Budget Plan

The government defended the budget as balanced and growth-oriented. Officials said it supports infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and social protection.

They also said revenue projections stand at Ksh3.6 trillion against Ksh4.82 trillion expenditure. The gap will be financed through domestic and external borrowing.

Otieno said citizens should not be treated as unlimited sources of revenue. He called for greater accountability in how public funds are used.

As implementation begins, scrutiny is expected to increase over how the budget affects ordinary Kenyans.