After taking all your cash in taxes, now Govt says it requires your ideas on spending it

National Treasury Cabinet SecretaryJohn Mbadi during the launch of the 2025 Economic Survey at the Kenyatta Convention Centre, Nairobi, on May 6, 2025. [Standard, Kanyiri Wahito]

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has reached out to Kenyans seeking suggestions on how to improve the National Budget for the next financial year. I have several ideas and questions. First off, I would have said what we need is not an "improvement" but an overhaul. Secondly, if Mbadi didn't know what he has been doing all these months, how will Kenyans' suggestions help him?

The counter to this is that Mbadi has the humility to admit he doesn't know what he has been doing, unlike some know-it-all who are bound to perish out of their own ignorance. But since Mbadi and his party insist they are not in government, I wonder why he should care about a process he is not entirely responsible for.

I am persuaded to accept the latter assessment because one of the addresses offered to Kenyans to submit their views is a Google mail. Why on earth would Kenyans' fiscal planning, and their reactions to the same, be hosted by a private, foreign firm? Does it mean we have become this jua kali?

Since Raila Odinga aka Baba has been bragging about his party being an employment bureau that can prop flagging regimes, I wonder if Mbadi has sought help within the rank and file of ODM. I suspect he has not since some folks at ODM were quite upset about his presence in sirkal.

If Mbadi is able to clarify all these questions, then I would be happy to share my ideas, chief among them, utilising all monies collected in the Housing Levy to renovate all the State lodges, and build new ones across the country. The presidency is in dire need of housing.