Small-scale traders in Mombasa have expressed skepticism over the proposed 2025/2026 national budget, citing concerns about the lack of direct impact from previous fiscal plans on their day-to-day operations.
The budget, presented by Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi on June 12, allocated Sh47.6 billion to the agriculture sector to boost food production, lower the cost of living, and support small-scale enterprises through subsidies and tax stability.
Key highlights of the proposed budget include the provision of subsidised fertiliser to 1.5 million farmers, expansion of irrigation schemes in regions such as Mwea, Bura, and Lower Nzoia, and renewed investments in the dairy, tea, coffee, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.
Despite these interventions, vendors operating at Mombasa's McKinnon Market, commonly referred to as Marikiti, have expressed their concerns over the practical impact of such allocations on their businesses.
