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Opposition Unveils ‘People’s Budget’, Accuses Ruto Govt of Economic Mismanagement

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NAIROBI, Kenya, June 11 — Kenya’s opposition coalition under the United Alternative Government banner has sharply criticised President William Ruto’s administration ahead of the presentation of the 2026/2027 national budget, accusing the government of pursuing policies that are deepening the country’s debt crisis and worsening the burden on ordinary citizens.

Speaking during a joint opposition address on Wednesday, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka unveiled what the coalition described as a “People’s Budget” — an alternative economic plan aimed at reducing the cost of living, improving public services and cutting reliance on borrowing.

Kalonzo said the government’s proposed Ksh4.82 trillion budget reflects misplaced priorities and excessive expenditure at a time when many Kenyans are struggling with unemployment, high food prices and rising taxes.

According to the coalition, the government’s projected revenue of Sh3.63 trillion falls significantly short of planned expenditure, leaving a budget deficit of more than Sh1 trillion that will have to be financed through additional borrowing.

Kalonzo warned that the growing debt burden risks placing future generations under severe financial pressure.

“The country is borrowing beyond its means while essential sectors continue to suffer from underfunding,” he said.

The coalition particularly criticised the government’s allocation towards debt repayment, arguing that the amount set aside for servicing loans now rivals or exceeds spending on critical sectors such as education.

Opposition leaders accused the government of failing to adequately finance free education programmes, claiming parents are increasingly being forced to cover costs that should be met by the State.

They pointed to funding shortfalls in Free Primary Education, Junior Secondary School and Free Day Secondary Education, insisting that access to education should remain fully supported by government funding.

The coalition also linked recent unrest and fire incidents in schools to what it described as neglect of student welfare, mental health services and safety infrastructure in learning institutions.

On healthcare, the opposition renewed attacks on the Social Health Authority (SHA), claiming the programme has failed to deliver efficient healthcare services despite mandatory contributions by citizens.

Kalonzo described SHA as an expensive system that continues to face operational challenges while public hospitals struggle with shortages of medicines, equipment and personnel.

The coalition further questioned the government’s continued investment in technology contracts linked to SHA, saying the funds would be better directed towards frontline healthcare services.

The opposition also criticised several proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2026, especially taxes targeting digital financial services and mobile phone users.

Among the measures opposed by the coalition are the proposed 16 percent VAT on mobile money transaction fees and a 25 percent excise duty on mobile phones upon activation.

The leaders argued that such measures would disproportionately affect low-income Kenyans who rely heavily on mobile money platforms for daily transactions and small businesses.

The coalition additionally raised concerns over plans to grant the Kenya Revenue Authority expanded access to taxpayer information, warning that the move could expose citizens to intrusive monitoring and excessive taxation.

Opposition leaders also opposed any attempts to privatise or dispose of strategic national assets, including the Kenya Ports Authority and the government’s stake in Safaricom, saying such decisions should involve public participation and parliamentary scrutiny.

As an alternative, the United Alternative Government proposed a Ksh4.32 trillion “People’s Budget,” which it says would significantly reduce the fiscal deficit through improved efficiency, tighter expenditure controls and better revenue collection rather than imposing new taxes.

The coalition’s proposals include increased funding for education and healthcare, restoration of programmes such as Linda Mama and Edu Afya, creation of an Ksh80 billion youth employment programme and removal of taxes proposed on mobile money services and mobile phones.

It also pledged to abolish the Affordable Housing Levy and reduce spending at State House and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), redirecting some of the savings towards irrigation and food security programmes.

The opposition further proposed the introduction of a Single Treasury Account to curb corruption, eliminate duplicate payments and address pending bills flagged in Auditor General reports.

Kalonzo also faulted the government for failing to allocate compensation funds for victims of the June 2024 anti-government protests, including those affected by alleged police brutality and human rights violations.

Addressing Members of Parliament ahead of debate on the budget and Finance Bill 2026, the opposition urged legislators to reject proposals they described as punitive to ordinary Kenyans.

The coalition maintained that its alternative budget framework is designed to restore accountability in public spending while easing economic pressure on households and businesses across the country-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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