Joseph Isangura
Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi found himself under intense scrutiny during his visit to Bunge La Mwananchi, where he faced tough questions from the public over taxation, government spending, and allegations of financial mismanagement.
Alongside the Kenya Revenue Authority Board Chair, Mbadi sought to clarify government policies but was met with frustration from an audience weary of rising costs and continued deductions from their salaries.
One of the biggest concerns raised was taxation. Many Kenyans have been feeling the pinch of heavy levies on their income, and some feared even more taxes could be on the way. However, Mbadi was quick to assure the crowd that the government was not planning to introduce additional tax increases.
“We are not increasing VAT at all,” Mbadi said. “The finance bill this year may not have any tax adjustment upward in terms of rates. We cannot overtax Kenyans anymore; we have reached a limit where we are saying no more space for taxation on employment income.”
Despite this assurance, members of the public pressed him on how the government was spending taxpayers’ money, with many questioning the hefty amounts allocated to projects such as the renovation of State House. Some attendees felt these expenditures were misplaced, especially considering the government’s own calls for austerity.
Mbadi defended the spending, saying, “We have renovated. So what you need to tell me is, don’t spend any more money on renovation, isn’t it? Because the house we have now is good; it has been renovated and has taken the money it has taken.”
The Treasury chief also faced sharp criticism for his use of helicopters for travel, particularly when flying to his rural home. When questioned about this, he explained that his use of choppers was purely for efficiency, given his demanding schedule.
“I have used a chopper before on three occasions for government functions,” he said. “For example, I left Nairobi after a meeting at State House to go to Tana River and back. I don’t know whether I’d have made it using my car. From there, I had another function in Kisumu. So, let me ask you, once I finish that and I want to go to my rural home, does the chopper drop me on the road and come back to Nairobi, and I walk to my home? The chopper will drop me at my home.”
With the questions growing tougher, Mbadi took a softer approach, urging Kenyans to trust that the government was working to improve their lives. He also defended deductions for key programs such as the controversial Social Health Insurance Fund and the Housing Levy.
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“SHA is an insurance, and insurance does not mean that when you pay money for health, you must fall sick,” he explained.
The heated exchange reflected growing frustration among Kenyans over what many see as excessive government spending at a time when citizens are struggling with high taxes and rising costs of living. Recent reports by the Auditor General have only fueled public anger, revealing that the Office of the Deputy President spent millions on curtains and furniture—expenditures that many believe show a lack of financial discipline in government.
The government now faces mounting pressure to address these concerns and restore public trust. With protests and dissatisfaction growing, leaders will need to prove that they are serious about cutting wasteful spending and prioritizing the needs of ordinary Kenyans.
