KCPF Calls for Halt to Finance Bill Over Budget Law Violations
KCPF Chairman Charles Kanjama (R) and Bernard Muchere, a retired internal auditor and KCPF consultant (L) during a press briefing on it’s National Assembly Petition On “Illegal Borrowing and Budget Non- Compliance”
The Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) has issued a stern warning to Parliament and the National Treasury, urging them to immediately align the ongoing 2025/2026 budget process with constitutional and public finance laws.
Speaking during a media briefing under its Governance Accountability Program (GAP), KCPF raised the alarm over what it termed as blatant legal violations, including unlawful borrowing, inflated revenue projections, and flawed public participation.
The group emphasized that public engagement should be anchored in the estimates of revenue and expenditure as stipulated in Articles 220(1) and 221 of the Constitution not the Finance Bill, which is currently the focus.
“The main focus should not be the Finance Bill but the actual revenue estimates and spending plans, which expose gaps and budgeted corruption,” said KCPF Chairman Charles Kanjama.
Bernard Muchere, a retired internal auditor and KCPF consultant, criticized the process as constitutionally flawed. “It’s like putting the cart before the horse,” he said, stressing that citizen input must precede any taxation proposals.
He noted a worrying mismatch in fiscal planning: while the government proposes a Ksh. 4.57 trillion expenditure plan, actual revenue averages just Ksh. 1.97 trillion leaving a Ksh. 2.4 trillion deficit. The group accused the Treasury of violating laws by borrowing to finance recurrent expenditure and bypassing Parliament’s oversight.
“Debt that’s not lawfully approved is not sovereign debt and should not burden future generations,” he said.
KCPF demanded an immediate halt to the Finance Bill debate until the proper estimates are released and subjected to meaningful public participation.
“As the June 12 budget deadline looms, Kenya must return to lawful, transparent, and participatory budget-making,” Muchere stated.
The Forum also condemned the use of inflated revenue estimates to justify slush funds and called on oversight institutions to act.
