PHOTO/ A screengrab by K24 Digital
Newton Khamasi, a vocal Kenyan youth, tore into the government’s budget priorities, particularly a Ksh150 million allocation to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for social media monitoring.
His remarks, made in a local TV morning discussion on Friday, June 13, 2025, come at a time when the nation is grieving the death of Albert Ojwang, a man who died hours after his arrest by the DCI over a social media post, sparking widespread outrage.
“We’re mourning Albert Ojwang, and yet Cabinet Secretary for Treasury John Mbadi has the guts to allocate Ksh150 million to track people online,” Khamasi told the host.
“Where are our priorities? If MPs pass this budget, they’re complicit in Ojwang’s abduction and murder.”
He argued that the funds would empower the DCI to silence critics like himself.
“Because what does this 150 million do? It enables DCI to track down Newton Hamasi on his activities for him to be killed and silenced.”
Khamasi’s passionate critique painted a picture of a nation at a crossroads. He described the budget process as chaotic, lacking the clear outcomes promised by Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
“Someone just wakes up and says, ‘Put money here,’ and it’s done,” he said, frustration evident. “There’s no flow, no impact. It’s upside-down priorities.”
Misplaced priorities
The Ksh150 million allocation has stirred controversy, especially as reports reveal funds were cut from education.
Khamasi also highlighted the struggles of students, urging the government to build affordable hostels instead of diverting funds to projects like market sheds.
“The president was passionate about affordable housing. Now he wants to divert that money from affordable housing to go and construct markets, to go and construct sheds,” he said.
“Now, the $4.2 trillion budget, to me, I believe, is excessive. And as well as we do that, there is the component of inflation. People are losing jobs.”
Khamasi called for accountability, urging citizens to demand a budget that balances growth and public needs.
“If we get tough and observant, we can get the right plan without straining Kenyans,” he said.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
