Audio By Vocalize
CS Treasury John Mbadi grilled by members over the legibility of public participation used regarding the importation of condemned raw sugar by MSRL when he appeared before the National Assembly's Trade Committee Chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Masaka Shinali at Bunge Towers, Parliament, Nairobi. July 21st,2026 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
We are often told that politicians are temporary, but government is permanent. Yet we live in a country of almost permanent political campaigns, including current events leading into 2027. In the resulting cacophony, it has been easy to miss the first public milestone in the 2027/28 budget season, publication of the 2026 Budget Review and Outlook Paper (BROP) on August 11th.
Kenyans were invited to offer comments on this document within a short eight-day period, by August 19th. Welcome to our “Treasury as usual” mindset, completely ignoring the established practice of 14 days for public participation which is now set out in law, and which should have ended today. According to the budget calendar, BROP is expected to go to Cabinet tomorrow (August 26th), to be approved by August 30th and submitted to Parliament by September 1st.
Surprisingly, unlike the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) or Budget Estimates, Parliament does nothing with, or to, BROP in debate or amendment, it is a passive recipient like the rest of us.
