Peter Mbae: Supplementary budgets show governance incompetence
By Sharon Atieno, June 11, 2026The Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs, Peter Mbae, has criticised the frequent use of supplementary budgets, arguing that they reflect weak planning and poor governance discipline in public finance management.
Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Thursday, June 11, 2026, he said that a well-structured and balanced budget should not require mid-year adjustments, warning that repeated supplementary allocations point to inefficiencies in government planning and execution.
“If you have a balanced budget, you do not have to do a supplement. Any supplementary you see is a measure of the laziness and incompetence of governance,” he said.
Mbae further warned that Kenyans should expect more budget revisions in the coming fiscal cycle, suggesting that supplementary budgets could be introduced as early as September.
“As early as September, you will be hearing about a supplementary budget,” he said.
Recurrent spending under scrutiny
He also raised concern over the structure of public expenditure, arguing that a large share of both national and county budgets continues to be consumed by recurrent spending rather than development priorities.
Mbae noted that counties are facing similar challenges, with reports indicating that up to 60 per cent of their budgets are directed towards recurrent expenditure, warning that such trends undermine long-term development.
He cautioned that recurrent expenditure should not exceed 70 per cent of total budgets, saying fiscal sustainability depends on prioritising development spending.
“You can’t exceed 70 per cent,” he said.
Govt moves to cut supplementary budgets
However, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the government’s fiscal management approach, saying measures are being put in place to reduce reliance on supplementary budgets.
Speaking during a Thursday, June 11, 2026, interview ahead of the budget presentation, Mbadi said the government is strengthening planning systems to ensure that expenditure is fully captured in the main budget.
He acknowledged that weak planning and poor alignment between development plans and budgets have historically contributed to the need for supplementary allocations.
“I’ve actually been a proponent of planning, and I’ve said before that the problem that we have in our budgeting process is that we are not linking plans to budget,” he said.
Mbadi said the Treasury is pushing for reforms, including the introduction of a National Planning Bill, aimed at strengthening coordination between planning and budgeting frameworks.
Ideal is no supplementary budgets
The CS added that external shocks such as global conflicts and revenue underperformance have in the past necessitated budget adjustments, but insisted that the government is working to minimise such occurrences.
He expressed optimism that with improved planning, Kenya could eventually eliminate supplementary budgets in normal circumstances.
“In the next two or so years, if there is no disruption, we should not have any supplementary budget at all. That is the ideal, that is where we should go,” he said.