Gen Zs Storm Mombasa County Assembly Seeking Urgent Budget Clarification
On Friday, May 2, a group of determined Gen Zs stormed the Mombasa County Assembly, calling for urgent explanations over the delayed release of the county’s budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. Their bold demonstration highlighted frustrations among young residents who feel excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives.
Footage captured by Independent.co.ke revealed scenes of young people, some draped in the Kenyan flag, accompanied by activists, confronting county officials. Their core demands centered on budget transparency and inclusivity. With visible urgency, they questioned the secrecy surrounding a financial plan worth billions, which is expected to address critical public services.
The demonstrators accused Members of County Assembly (MCAs) of sidelining the youth during budget deliberations. According to them, this lack of representation contributes significantly to the county’s persistent challenges.
One protester voiced the collective concern, stating, “We had to take things into our own hands and bring ourselves here. What we want immediately addressed is the delayed release of the county budget in 2025/2026. We wonder why it is not yet out, and yet our basic needs are covered in this budget.”
Another protester echoed this concern with a warning about the implications of the delay: “Currently, hospitals do not work even when there is a budget. Imagine when there is no budget. Doctors will strike and there will be a shortage of medicines.”
The youths eventually gained an audience with the Clerk of the County Assembly, Salim Juma, to whom they presented their list of demands. Clerk Juma acknowledged the situation and provided a timeline for a formal response.
“As you know, today is not a working day. So we will go and deliberate this on Monday (May 5), and then on Tuesday (May 6), you can come back with three representatives and we can give you an informed response,” he assured.
Despite this promise, the group remained cautious. They vowed to return to the County Assembly chambers should their concerns go unanswered. Their resilience and civic engagement marked a strong call for accountability and proper governance.
The protest comes against the backdrop of a structured but often poorly executed county budgeting process. According to Kenyan law, county budgets must follow a well-defined annual cycle designed to promote public participation and fiscal discipline.
It begins with the drafting of critical documents such as the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and the Annual Development Plan (ADP). These plans highlight both long-term and short-term goals for the county. By February, the County Treasury is required to produce the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP), a document that outlines spending priorities and budget ceilings.
Following this, public participation sessions are held, allowing citizens to share input and influence the outcome. By the end of April, detailed budget estimates should be presented to the County Assembly for review, adjustments, and approval. This approval is formalized by June 30 through an Appropriation Bill. Once passed, the implementation phase begins on July 1, and includes monitoring and reporting to promote transparency and accountability.
In theory, this system is designed to be inclusive and responsive. However, in practice, delays and limited public engagement frequently hinder its effectiveness. The current unrest in Mombasa is a reflection of these recurring issues. Youths are now insisting on active involvement, emphasizing that decisions about public finances should not be made behind closed doors.
The Gen Z protesters drew attention not only to the late release of the 2025/2026 budget but also to broader governance concerns. They argued that their generation, which forms a significant portion of the population, must be given a seat at the table.
This call for inclusion is not without precedent. Over the past few years, Kenyan youth have become increasingly vocal about governance, unemployment, and service delivery. By leveraging social media and organizing on the ground, they are changing the tone and urgency of political discourse.
For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Mombasa County had an approved budget of Ksh16.25 billion. This figure represented an 11 percent increase from the previous year’s allocation. Despite this growth, many residents argue that services such as healthcare, waste management, and education remain underfunded or poorly managed.
Such inconsistencies raise legitimate questions about how public funds are spent and whether the budgeting process truly reflects the will and needs of the people. The recent protest adds to the growing demand for responsible leadership and citizen engagement in budget-making.
As the County Assembly prepares to revisit the matter, all eyes will be on how they respond. The outcome could set a precedent for how other counties approach youth involvement in governance. At its heart, this movement is a demand for visibility, equity, and shared responsibility.
The events of May 2 serve as a reminder that civic engagement is alive, and that young people are no longer willing to remain silent. Their message was clear: budgets are not just figures on paper—they directly affect lives. And those lives, according to them, must count in every step of the process.
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Gen Zs Storm Mombasa County Assembly Seeking Urgent Budget Clarification
