Former Chair of the National Assembly Budget Committee, Ndindi Nyoro, has raised serious concerns over what he described as questionable borrowing practices by the National Treasury, coupled with risky utilization of pension funds and widening gaps in the national budget.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Nyoro demanded full disclosure from the Treasury on the country’s borrowing portfolio. He called for transparency on the amount borrowed, interest rates applied, repayment periods, and the total cost of the loans upon maturity.“There’s a growing concern over opaque borrowing. Kenyans deserve to know how much debt is being taken on their behalf, under what terms, and how this will impact future generations,” Nyoro stated.
The Kiharu MP also highlighted urgent budget shortfalls that he says risk crippling critical government services. Top on the list is a KSh 6 billion funding gap for national examinations, which he warned could disrupt the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams scheduled for later this year.
He also pointed to a KSh 3.8 billion shortfall needed to confirm 8,571 health workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.
Additionally, Nyoro noted that community health promoters — a vital link in grassroots healthcare delivery — are yet to receive adequate funding.“These are not optional expenditures — they are essential. We cannot talk about a functional healthcare system or credible national exams if these areas remain underfunded,” Nyoro emphasized.
He further cautioned against what he termed as the “risky and unsustainable” trend of dipping into pension funds to cover recurrent government spending, warning it could jeopardize the retirement savings of millions of Kenyans.
The outspoken legislator called on the Treasury to act swiftly and transparently to plug the gaps and restore public confidence in the country’s fiscal management.
The pressure mounts on the government to rein in borrowing and prioritize essential services, all eyes are now on Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to respond to the growing calls for clarity and fiscal discipline.
