A group of angry Gen Zs on Friday, May 2, stormed the county Parliament of Mombasa demanding answers over the delayed release of the Mombasa county budget for the upcoming 2025/2026 Financial Year.
Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed the youths, joined by activists with some having the Kenyan flag tied on their necks, confronting county officials over the lack of transparency and lack of sufficient public participation in the process of coming up with the county’s budget worth billions.
In their protests, the Gen Zs criticised Members of County Assembly (MCAs), accusing them of excluding young people from the decision-making process and citing the MCAs’ inefficiencies as the root cause of many of the county's problems.
“We had to take things into our own hands and bring ourselves here. What we want immediately addressed is the delayed release of the county budget in 2025/2026. We wonder why it is not yet out and yet our basic needs are covered in this budget,” one of the Gen Zs posited.
“Currently, hospitals do not work when there is a budget. Imagine when there is no budget. Doctors will strike and there will be a shortage of medicines,” she further averred.
The youths proceeded to present their demands to the Clerk of the County Assembly, Salim Juma, who promised a prompt response to their concerns.
“As you know, today is not a working day. So we will go and deliberate this on Monday (May 5), and then on Tuesday (May 6), you can come back with three representatives and we can give you an informed response,” Clerk Juma assured.
Even so, the unbowed youths vowed to return to the chambers if their demands were not met.
For the 2024/2025 financial year, Mombasa County's approved budget stands at Ksh16.25 billion, reflecting an 11 per cent increase from the previous year’s allocation.
The county budgeting process in Kenya is a structured and participatory cycle guided by law. It begins with the development of key planning documents such as the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and the Annual Development Plan (ADP), which set out long-term and annual priorities.
The County Treasury then prepares the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) by February, outlining budget ceilings and proposed spending. This is followed by public participation, allowing citizens and stakeholders to give their input.
By the end of April, detailed budget estimates are submitted to the County Assembly, which reviews, amends, and approves them by 30 June through the Appropriation Bill. Once enacted, the budget is implemented from 1 July, with regular monitoring and reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
