National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has announced that the government will present the budget policy statement and revenue-raising measures for the 2025/26 fiscal year on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Speaking during a media interview on April 18, 2025, Mbadi revealed that the date was agreed upon in consultation with his counterparts from the East African region, following discussions held in Uganda.

“I suggested to my colleagues that we read our budgets on the 12th of June, and they seemed to have agreed. Actually, it was initially proposed by the Tanzanian minister,” Mbadi revealed.

He clarified that the focus on that day will be on outlining the budget policy highlights and revenue-raising measures, which are crucial components of the broader fiscal plan.

“The public will already have seen the proposed revenue measures through the Finance Bill even before I carry the budget briefcase to Parliament,” he stated.

Constitutional deadlines

Mbadi further elaborated on the budget approval timeline, emphasising that the government is constitutionally bound to ensure the Appropriation Bill, which authorises government expenditure, is passed by Parliament and assented to by the President by June 30, 2025.

“If the President does not assent to the Appropriation Bill by the 30th of June, a vote on account kicks in where you are allowed to spend as you await the presidential assent,” Mbadi explained.

“Previously, the vote on account used to be given even before the bill was passed. But that changed with the current constitution. We have since affirmed that the vote on account can only be granted after the bill is passed but before assent by the president,” he added.

Finance Bill 2025

In a previous address on February 13, 2025, the CS provided updates on the Finance Bill 2025, disclosing that the proposed national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year is estimated at Ksh4.2 trillion.

He announced that the Treasury had already initiated public engagement as part of the budget-making process, underscoring that the Finance Bill is a constitutional requirement under Chapter 12.

“Kenyans have been asking why we must always have it. It is provided for under Chapter 12 that every year we must have a finance bill. What is not a must is having a finance bill with increased rates of taxation. It can have a decrease or an increase or remain the same, but we will have to create one, however thin,” he stated.

Responding to concerns raised after the controversial 2024 Finance Bill, which was later withdrawn following nationwide protests, Mbadi said the government has adopted a more pragmatic approach for the new fiscal year.

“We are becoming more realistic in our approach to revenue collection in the year 2025/26. We had a figure of Ksh3 trillion and Ksh18 billion on ordinary revenue, but we have revised downwards. It shows the treasury is walking the talk. We have not just been over-projecting revenue without taking action,” he stated.