The National Treasury announced that Parliament must approve the 2027/28 Budget Estimates by 31 March 2027, advancing the usual schedule to accommodate the August 2027 general election.

Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo made the announcement during the opening of the FY 2027/28 and medium‑term budget public sector hearings on 9 October 2026.

Kiptoo explained that the revised calendar is intended to give Parliament sufficient time to review and pass the estimates, thereby avoiding disruptions to government operations during the election period.

The accelerated timetable also means Treasury and parliamentary committees will examine spending proposals for key sectors—health, education, infrastructure, security and social protection—earlier than in previous cycles.

Stakeholders and the public will have three days, starting with the hearings on 9 October, to review sectoral budget proposals, submit comments and recommend adjustments.

Public participation is highlighted as a core element of the process, allowing citizens to raise concerns about funding for essential services, development projects and programmes that affect households and businesses.

The recommendations gathered during the hearings will feed into the final budget preparation before the estimates move through parliamentary scrutiny and approval stages.

Kenya’s economy grew 5.3 % in the first quarter of 2026, up from 4.9 % a year earlier, providing a backdrop of improved macro‑economic performance for the upcoming budget discussions.

Kiptoo noted that average growth between 2022 and 2025 was 5.0 %, outpacing global (3.4 %) and Sub‑Saharan African (4.1 %) rates, though he cautioned that growth alone does not capture household‑level impacts such as employment and cost of living.

The 2027/28 budget will be closely watched for how resources are allocated across competing priorities while maintaining continuity of public services throughout the election cycle.