The 2026/2027 budget is just another attempt to squeeze blood out of Wanjiku's already dry veins. While Kenyans scrape by on local M-Pesa transactions and struggle with the rising cost of living, the political class continues to borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow.
Let's dive into the controversial reality of Kenyan current affairs. We need to have a very raw conversation about what is happening in Kenya today. It feels like we are living in a cinematic paradox where leadership is out of touch, the economy is tragic, and Wanjiku is paying the price for an endless cycle of political drama and PR stunts. How do we reach a point where billions of shillings are supposedly pumped into national projects, yet the only thing that arrives on time is the next massive scandal?
The Great Tax Illusion Let's talk about the 2026/2027 budget and the endless contentious clauses that are being thrown around. The Finance Bill feels like a massive surveillance net on every single cash transaction. Some of our leaders seem to have arrived at State House thinking the absolute only way to run this country is through over-taxation.
It reminds us of a simpler time when leadership championed a straightforward philosophy of taxation—"Kulipa ushuru ni kujitegemea" (Paying taxes is self-reliance). Today, it feels more like the government is trying to survive by scavenging off the youth. They tax our airtime, they tax our M-Pesa, and they tax the very hustles that are keeping families fed. It’s a vicious cycle where the government relies too heavily on domestic borrowing from local banks, leaving no room for youth and local businesses to secure loans for their hustles.
Parastatals & The Illusion of Progress Can we honestly look at some of our parastatals and not laugh or cry? How exactly do you lose billions of shillings every single year and somehow manage to keep your job? It is uniquely Kenyan to run a sugar factory or a national corporation that hasn't made a real profit in over a decade, yet management still takes home hefty salaries and allowances. They are practically "para-stutters," choking the very life out of the economy.
And then we have the advisors. The presidency employs an army of advisors, all giving wildly conflicting directions. Some of these individuals have no realistic grasp of basic economics, but they take to X (formerly Twitter) to write threads that make them look like Nobel laureates. We are paying them millions of shillings just to hear them confidently declare that "the cost of living is a mere perception." Try telling that to a mother in Mtwapa who can barely afford unga for dinner!
Power is Transient If you want to understand the transience of political power in Kenya, look no further than recent events involving former leaders. We've seen figures who used to strut around with absolute power, whose names commanded respect, and whose palatial homes hosted endless lines of politicians seeking favors. Where are they now? Often, it ends with high-profile corruption allegations, the freezing of bank accounts, and the auctioning of multi-million shilling properties.
It’s a harsh, controversial lesson for our current crop of politicians: the loyalty of a crowd that is paid or intimidated is never real. The moment you lose your fancy title and your access to state funds, the very people who were clapping for you at rallies are the first to post the auction notices and celebrate your downfall.
The Political Carousel What a time to be alive in Kenya's political arena! We’ve reached a level of political absurdity where historical adversaries and rival political parties seemingly retweet each other and form alliances. Filmmakers really should consider scripting a blockbuster political series—the love, hate, drama, betrayal, comedy, and suspense would easily outsell any Hollywood drama.
Facebook ·K24 TV But beneath the memes and the trending hashtags, there is a serious question of governance. We saw the ODM-Jubilee/government mergers and last-minute realignments. Some leaders try to justify this by claiming they had to join forces to prevent the country from collapsing. They frame it as salvaging a broken-down car by using a battered old tire just to get away from the immediate danger, before figuring out how to actually fix the vehicle.
However, Kenyans are beginning to see right through the excuses. We are forced to ask our leaders whether they intend to actually fix the country and run it like an inclusive democracy, or continue operating a system where corruption, tribalism, and "the winner takes all" mentality dictate every election.
The Trap of Tribalism We also need to call out the dirty underbelly of our political disco