Quick Answer
Kenya’s budget is not a one-day event — it is a year-round constitutional process. Each year the Treasury plans it, the public is consulted, and Parliament approves it, with the financial year running from 1 July to 30 June.
Key facts
- The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June.
- The National Treasury leads budget preparation.
- The Budget Policy Statement goes to Parliament by 15 February.
- Parliament passes the approved budget (Appropriation Act) by 30 June.
A year-round process
The budget runs on a fixed calendar set by the Public Finance Management Act, not a single announcement. Preparation starts almost a year before the money is spent, and continues with monitoring and audit long after.
The main stages and documents
Across the year, the key milestones are:
- August — the Treasury issues a budget circular, starting the process.
- September — the Budget Review and Outlook Paper (BROP) sets economic forecasts and spending ceilings.
- 15 February — the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) goes to Parliament, setting the fiscal direction.
- 30 April — the Budget Estimates are tabled in Parliament.
- By 30 June — Parliament passes the Appropriation Act, the approved budget.
- Around September — the Finance Act sets out the year’s tax measures.
The county budget mirrors it
Counties run a parallel cycle — with a County Fiscal Strategy Paper, county budget estimates and a County Appropriation Act — and public participation is required at both the national and county levels.
Why this matters to you
The fixed calendar tells you exactly when to weigh in. The public-participation windows around the Budget Policy Statement and the estimates are when citizens can still influence what gets funded.
Frequently asked questions
When does Kenya’s financial year start?
1 July, running to 30 June the following year.
Who prepares the budget?
The National Treasury, at county level the county treasuries.
When can the public take part?
Mainly during the Budget Policy Statement and budget-estimates stages, and in county budget forums.
Sources & references
- Constitution of Kenya 2010, Chapter Twelve — klrc.go.ke
- Public Finance Management Act, 2012 — kenyalaw.org
- The National Treasury — treasury.go.ke