DODOMA, June 12 -- EAST Africas 2026/27 budgets have set the stage for a regional economic race defined less by size alone and more by growth momentum, fiscal pressure and competing development strategies, as Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda unveil multi-trillion-shilling spending plans.

Kenya leads in overall fiscal size with a KSh4.78trn (about US$37bn) budget, followed by Tanzania at Sh62.334trn (about US$24.2bn), while Uganda has approved Shs84.3trn (about US$22.9bn). Despite Kenyas larger dollar value, Tanzanias budget stands out for its higher growth rate and strong development allocation.

Tanzanias budget marks a 10.3 per cent increase from the previous year, reinforcing its push toward infrastructure-led expansion. The government is p...