CS Wahome Defends 2026/27 Budget, Says Increased Funding Will Improve Healthcare, Education and Service Delivery

Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has defended the 2026/27 national budget, describing it as a people-centered financial plan that will improve service delivery, strengthen healthcare, boost education, and accelerate development projects across the country.

While commenting on the recently unveiled Ksh. 4.8 trillion budget during an official visit in Gatanga, Murang'a County, Wahome said Kenyans should focus on the impact the allocations will have on their daily lives rather than political criticism surrounding the budget-making process.

“One can only congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, and His Excellency the President for presenting an improved budget. What we now want to see is that budget making a real difference in the lives of Kenyans through improved services at both the county and national levels,” she said.

Wahome particularly welcomed increased funding for healthcare, expressing optimism that the Social Health Authority (SHA) system will continue to improve access to medical services.

“For me, I want to see better service delivery through SHA. I want to hear that legitimate hospital bills submitted for payment are cleared within the stipulated timelines. The system is working. It may have one or two challenges, but that does not mean we throw away the entire system,” she said.

The CS dismissed criticism from opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, arguing that some of the claims being made are not supported by facts.

“The proposals and sweeping statements being made by the opposition are not anchored in law or facts. Some have claimed that the government has reduced funding for education, yet the figures clearly show the opposite,” she said.

She urged leaders to engage in evidence-based discussions and rely on data when analysing government policies and budget allocations.

“Leaders should speak based on facts and figures. The numbers in the budget speak for themselves,” she added.

Wahome noted that education remains one of the biggest beneficiaries of the budget, with allocations increasing to support teacher recruitment and improve learning outcomes.

“I have seen an increase in the education budget to over Ksh. 700 billion. Education is a critical service for our children and for the future of this country,” she said.

According to the CS, the government has already employed more than 120,000 teachers since taking office and plans to recruit nearly 50,000 more teachers between now and next year.

“Our teachers have waited for employment opportunities for years after completing their training. To support this recruitment, the necessary budgetary allocation must be provided,” she said.

Education stakeholders have consistently argued that increased teacher recruitment is necessary to address staffing shortages in public schools and improve the teacher-to-student ratio across the country.

While praising the budget, Wahome acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges facing the Treasury will be raising sufficient revenue to finance the ambitious spending plan.

“The challenge now is how the Treasury will raise the money required for development projects, salaries, and other government expenditures outlined in the Ksh. 4.8 trillion budget,” she said.

She noted that while the government expects to raise approximately Ksh. 2.9 trillion in revenue, additional financing mechanisms will be required to bridge the gap.

Wahome defended initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme and the proposed National Infrastructure Fund, saying they provide innovative ways of financing development without relying entirely on conventional taxation or foreign borrowing.

“The Affordable Housing Programme would not have been possible without a dedicated levy that specifically addresses infrastructure challenges. Similarly, the National Infrastructure Fund provides a new legal framework for mobilising resources to support development,” she said.

The Cabinet Secretary also weighed in on the ongoing debate over Kenya’s debt burden and its relationship with international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

She argued that African countries often face disproportionately high borrowing costs due to perceptions that the continent is a high-risk investment destination.

“The truth is that Kenya has borrowed from institutions such as the IMF and World Bank since independence. The bigger issue is that African countries are often subjected to higher interest rates because the continent is viewed as a risk,” she said.

Wahome maintained that strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and local financing mechanisms would be more beneficial than excessive dependence on external borrowing.

“If we can raise more resources locally through our own institutions, natural resources and innovative financing frameworks, then we are better off than relying heavily on expensive foreign loans,” she said.

The CS also addressed land ownership issues affecting residents of Murang’a County, revealing that the government is in the process of resolving long-standing land registration challenges.

She said her ministry has been identifying and registering landowners whose documentation had remained incomplete for years.

“We have been searching for and registering the rightful beneficiaries. Some of them have no title deeds despite having occupied their land for many years. We are finalizing the process and will begin issuing title deeds soon,” she said.

Wahome urged families to keep proper records of land ownership and succession matters to avoid future disputes.

“Many times, parents acquire property but fail to inform their children about it. When they pass away, nobody knows where the documents are or how to follow up. Families need to have these conversations,” she advised.

Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, Wahome said the government's immediate priority remains the implementation of development projects and fulfillment of campaign promises.

“We will deal with politics when the time comes. For now, our focus is on ensuring that government programmes are completed and that the promises we made to Kenyans are fully implemented,” she said.

She expressed confidence that the increased budget allocations across key sectors would translate into better services, improved infrastructure, expanded healthcare access and more employment opportunities for Kenyans.

“This budget should improve the lives of teachers, our children, farmers, patients seeking healthcare, and ordinary Kenyans. That is what matters most,” she said.