National Budget can propel unity, inclusivity

The National Treasury CS John Mbadi at Parliament on June 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The annual National Budget is not merely a fiscal document — it is a political and social tool that can either entrench divisions or promote national unity.

As a nation shaped by ethnic diversity, regional disparities, and a history of uneven development, Kenya must view its National Budget as a vehicle for inclusivity and reconciliation. A fair and strategic budget has the potential to strengthen our social fabric.

In the past, allocation of public resources has been influenced by “politics of numbers”—a system in which the size of a region’s population or its voting power often dictates the share of national resources it receives. It is time that the country adopts an Equity-Based Resource Allocation Formula.

While population should remain a key factor, equal weight must be given to indicators such as poverty levels, infrastructure deficits, land size, and historical marginalisation. Kenya’s history has often been marred by perceptions of exclusion and resource-based marginalisation. The budget, therefore, must be used to correct these imbalances by ensuring all counties, especially those historically neglected, receive equitable investment.

Allocations for roads, water, electricity, schools, and hospitals in counties like Turkana, Wajir, Tana River, and West Pokot can significantly improve trust in the state. Equity in distribution helps dismantle the “us versus them” mentality that has fuelled inter-ethnic tensions since independence.

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) have consistently pointed to the need for restorative justice. The budget can implement these recommendations through targeted programmes in marginalised areas: land reforms, affirmative action for minority communities, support for conflict-prone zones such as Tiaty sub-county in Baringo, and peace dividends for regions emerging from violence. These actions demonstrate that the State is responsive and inclusive.

The Constitution provides for public participation in governance, including the budgeting process. Meaningful engagement with communities can foster a sense of ownership. When pastoralists in Isiolo, farmers in Kericho, fisher folk in Homa Bay, and traders in Gikomba see their needs reflected in the budget, they develop a stronger allegiance to the national agenda. Participatory budgeting deepens democratic values and reinforces a unified national identity.

With over 70 per cent of the population under the age of 35, Kenya’s future hinges on youth empowerment. The budget must prioritise employment schemes, innovation funds, vocational training centres, and support for creative industries. When youth are economically engaged, they become nation-builders rather than instruments of political violence.

The success of devolution rests on proper budgetary support. Equitable and timely disbursal of the allocation of national revenue to county governments ensures development reaches every corner of the country.

The budget is Kenya’s most potent policy tool for promoting national unity. It speaks volumes about who matters, whose voices are heard, and whose lives are improved. In a country as diverse as Kenya, using the budget to foster inclusion, equity, and justice is not just good economics—it is essential for national cohesion. Let’s advocate for a budget that binds us, not one that divides us.

The writer is the head of peacebuilding and reconciliation at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission