Members of Parliament (MPs) have been petitioned to suspend public borrowing for 24 months from the 2027/2028 financial year, amid concerns that the continued growth of Kenya’s public debt could place a heavy financial burden on future generations and weaken the government’s ability to provide essential services.
A youth-led governance initiative argues that the move would help slow debt accumulation and allow the country to strengthen oversight of borrowing decisions.
The Bunge Mashinani School of Governance Initiative presented the petition before the National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday, saying young people and future generations risk carrying the responsibility of repaying debts whose decisions they were not directly involved in making.
The group, whose members come from different parts of the country, raised concerns over the increase in public debt and its impact on Kenya’s economic future.
“The overall result of this debt is that future generations will inherit not only accumulated debt obligations but also weakened public systems and reduced state capacity to deliver essential services, thereby compounding long-term inequality and limiting economic mobility,” the petitioners said.
The petitioners told the Committee that Kenya’s public debt had increased from about Sh2.4 trillion in 2014 to more than Sh12 trillion currently, calling for urgent measures to prevent further growth of the debt burden.
They asked Parliament to strengthen its role in monitoring public debt contracting, management and reporting. The group proposed regular review of borrowing decisions, improved debt sustainability assessments and increased transparency in how debt is managed.
The youth initiative also called for wider public involvement in budget-making processes and urged government agencies to provide debt information through simple digital platforms that can be easily understood by citizens.
Committee Vice Chairperson Janet Sitienei informed the petitioners that the National Treasury already releases debt information through annual Public Debt Management Reports and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy.
She encouraged the group to study the available reports to gain a better understanding of Kenya’s debt position, a suggestion the petitioners welcomed.
Committee Chairperson Muchangi Karemba praised the initiative, saying citizen involvement in governance matters helps strengthen accountability and oversight.
“I would like to see this kind of arrangement replicated across the country by people who want to see accountability and good governance. I am very sure that if there were a replica of this initiative in every constituency, the government would more easily understand what the people of Kenya are saying,” Karemba said.
During the same sitting, the committee also considered a separate petition by former employees of Uchumi Supermarkets Limited seeking intervention over unpaid salary arrears, gratuity and terminal dues.
The former workers told MPs that the company had failed to clear the outstanding payments despite the passing of several years, court interventions and commitments made under the Company’s Voluntary Arrangement.
They said only about two per cent of the total amount owed to them had been paid, leaving many former employees and their families facing financial difficulties.
According to the petitioners, the delay in settling their dues had affected their livelihoods, ability to meet family responsibilities, access to healthcare and education for dependants, while also forcing some into debt.
“We respectfully seek the intervention of the National Assembly to ensure justice, accountability, and a fair resolution of the long-standing employment claims,” the petitioners’ Chairperson, Philemon Oburenyi, said.
Members of the committee assured the former Uchumi employees that the concerns raised would be examined further through engagement with relevant stakeholders.
The Committee said it would table its findings and recommendations before the National Assembly for consideration and debate.
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