Uriri Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita has dismissed the possibility of Kenya adopting Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) in the near future, citing the country’s overwhelming debt burden accumulated over the past decade. Speaking on Citizen TV, Nyamita argued that the steep debt ceiling inherited from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration and sustained under President William Ruto’s government makes ZBB unfeasible for now.
The Debt Obstacle
Zero-Based Budgeting requires all expenditures to be justified anew each fiscal year, starting from scratch rather than relying on previous budgets. However, Nyamita noted that Kenya’s massive debt obligations stemming from loans taken since 2013 make this approach impractical. “It is almost an impossibility for now,” he admitted, though he expressed hope that the journey toward ZBB must begin eventually. He contrasted the current situation with the late President Mwai Kibaki’s era, when Kenya was closer to fiscal stability and ZBB could have been viable.
Taxpayers to Bear the Burden
Nyamita emphasized that the government must honor its existing debt commitments, meaning taxpayers will continue shouldering the cost. “The government exists in perpetuity, and we have to pay these debts,” he stated. This reality complicates any attempt to reset the national budget, as servicing debt consumes a significant portion of revenue, leaving little room for discretionary spending
The MP also criticized the government’s plan to allocate Ksh.700 billion for development projects, arguing that the funds would be better spent on critical infrastructure to stimulate economic growth. “We should put more into infrastructure that helps grow the economy,” he urged, hinting at possible inefficiencies in the current budget priorities.
Nyamita’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over increased taxes and concerns about wasteful spending. Many Kenyans question whether revenue is being used effectively, especially as living costs soar. His comments highlight the tough choices facing the government: balancing debt repayment, development needs, and taxpayer expectations.
For now, Zero-Based Budgeting remains a lofty ideal rather than an immediate solution for Kenya’s fiscal challenges. As Nyamita put it, the country must first confront its debt crisis before dreaming of a fresh financial start.
