Kenya blockchain players push for balanced crypto regulations under Finance Bill 2026 By Vincent Anguche May 14, 2026 08:49 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Industry stakeholders said while regulation is nec …
Finance Bill 2026: Concerns raised over Ksh.100K fines for tax non-compliance By Jimmy Mbogoh May 13, 2026 08:17 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Kenyans will have a shorter time to file th …
… der claimed that the Kenya Kwanza taxation measures that are aimed at disenfranchising Kenyans who are struggling to make ends meet, while a few individuals in President William Ruto’s inner cycle were making deals worth billions of shillings.He alleged that the Finance Bill 2026 …
… PHOTO | COURTESY Audio By Vocalize Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has said the government will seek to reintroduce a proposed tax on second-hand clothes, popularly known as mitumba, after the National Assembly removed it from the Finance Bill 2026. …
NAIROBI, Kenya May 11 – Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed concerns that the proposed Finance Bill 2026 will lead to a sharp increase in smartphone prices, arguing that the new tax structure will instead lower the overall tax burden on mobile devices. …
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 11 – Parliament has opened the Finance Bill 2026 for public participation, setting the stage for national debate over proposed tax changes touching on mobile phones, mitumba imports, digital platforms and cryptocurrency transactions. …
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo has launched a blistering attack on the Finance Bill 2026, warning that a proposed 25 per cent excise duty on mobile phones amounts to taxing a necessity, not a luxury, in a country where millions depend on handsets for b …
… In a high-level meeting with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, the private sector presented proposals for the Finance Bill 2026 aimed at addressing what it termed a “triple crisis” of fiscal strain, energy constraints, and regulatory i …
Kenyan workers earning below Ksh.30,000 monthly will not receive the anticipated PAYE tax exemption in the 2026/2027 Budget, despite promises by President Ruto and Treasury CS John Mbadi. The relief had been expected by more than one million employed Kenyans.
Why it matters
Promised PAYE tax relief for over one million workers earning below Ksh.30,000 is omitted from the budget, breaking a key government pledge.
Kenyan workers earning below Ksh.30,000 monthly will not receive the anticipated PAYE tax exemption in the 2026/2027 Budget, despite promises by President Ruto and Treasury CS John Mbadi. The relief had been expected by more than one million employed Kenyans.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is presenting a Sh4.84 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year as heightened security surrounds Parliament Buildings amid public concern over taxation and government spending priorities.
Kenya's United Alternative Government coalition, led by Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, unveiled a "People's Budget" alternative plan and accused the Ruto administration of economic mismanagement, citing a projected budget deficit of more than Sh1 trillion and policies deepening the country's debt crisis.
Kenyans across Nairobi are calling on the government to ease high fuel prices and reduce taxes on essential commodities ahead of the Finance Bill 2026 presentation, with commuters and traders citing rising transport costs and production expenses squeezing household incomes.
Scrap metal dealers will be required to pay a 1.5 per cent withholding tax on sales from July if the Finance Bill 2026 is passed, according to The Standard.
Scrap metal dealers will be required to pay a 1.5 per cent withholding tax on sales of both locally sourced and imported scrap starting in July if the Finance Bill 2026 is passed.
The National Treasury's Finance Bill 2026 reflects nearly two years of pressure from the International Monetary Fund to close Kenya's fiscal gap through new taxes, spending cuts, and fiscal consolidation.
The opposition has presented a "People's Budget" of Sh.4.32 trillion ahead of the government's 2026/2027 fiscal plan, proposing to reduce the fiscal deficit to 2.8 per cent of GDP while increasing funding for education and health, restoring programmes such as Linda Mama and Edu Afya, and allocating Sh.80 billion for youth employment. The coalition, led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has accused the government of fiscal recklessness, excessive borrowing, and anti-poor policies.
Scrap metal dealers in Kenya have welcomed tax changes in the Finance Bill 2026, which propose a 1.5 per cent withholding tax at the point of sale and removal of VAT on scrap metal transactions, saying the measures could ease compliance and support industry growth.
As Kenya prepares for the 2026 Budget, economist Ruth Kendagor explains the fundamentals of public finance, including how government raises money through taxes, levies, fees, grants, and borrowing, and the role of institutions like the National Treasury and Parliament in the budget-making process.
Ahead of World Social Media Day on June 30, Capital News publishes an opinion piece examining how various sectors—corporate, development, and political—use social media storytelling, beyond the media industry's well-documented struggles with disruption from digital platforms.
President William Ruto has been accused of using the "flooding the zone" political strategy to confuse Kenyans and the opposition, enabling him to advance contentious programmes such as the Finance Bill 2026 and fuel hikes.
The Standard's editorial warns that as the government prepares the Finance Bill 2026, Kenyans are anxious about additional taxes given their struggle with rising costs of living, food prices, transport, education, and healthcare. The editorial argues that while taxation is necessary for government revenue and development, it must be balanced with citizens' and businesses' ability to survive and grow, noting that Kenyans are being asked to contribute more while many earn less.
A clause in Kenya's Finance Bill 2026 proposes to delete exemptions that have allowed goods from East African Community partner states to enter Kenya free of excise duty, instead applying the same levies as imports from China or Europe. Manufacturing executives warn this could wipe out a third of Sh350 billion in regional trade.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President Ruto's administration of prioritizing luxury spending over critical sectors in the proposed 2026/27 Budget, terming the budget and Finance Bill a "twin evil" that would increase taxes while failing to stimulate growth and noting the Presidency and State House allocation of Ksh.17 billion.
Tax experts and financial sector stakeholders have welcomed several proposals in the Finance Bill 2026, particularly measures aimed at easing the tax burden on Kenyans, while calling for amendments to ensure greater fairness and economic impact. ICPAK Chairperson Elizabeth Kalunda praised the bill for avoiding new taxes during economic pressures and welcomed proposals for pre-populated tax returns and exemptions from taxation.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has clarified that the Finance Bill 2026 proposes to space out tax return filing deadlines for different categories of taxpayers—nil filers, salaried employees, and business taxpayers—to reduce last-minute congestion and technical challenges in the filing system.
The United Alternative Government opposition coalition, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, has called for immediate publication of all agreements and protocols related to Kenya's Ebola response, accusing the Ruto administration of secrecy. The coalition also rejected the Finance Bill 2026 in its current form and announced plans to field a jointly backed candidate in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Annual inflation in Kenya accelerated to 6.7 per cent in May from 5.6 per cent in April, driven largely by rising food and transport costs. Tomatoes were 45.7 per cent more expensive than a year ago, sparking viral memes portraying them as luxury items.
Finance Bill 2026 proposes removing five existing smartphone taxes while introducing a new 25% excise duty on mobile phones, a move that has sparked public debate over its impact on digital access and youth participation in the digital economy.
The National Assembly Finance Committee has warned that misinformation and unofficial documents are shaping public debate on the Finance Bill 2026, noting confusion over provisions such as rental income tax and Mitumba taxation. Parliament issued clarifications debunking claims that the bill requires annual land rent payments on freehold land, urging the public to verify information using the official version.
Kenya's Finance Bill 2026 aims to raise about Sh120 billion in additional revenue through changes to digital transactions, mobile phones, excise duties, and VAT treatment, but faces criticism from economists and business groups who argue the measures prioritize revenue generation over household relief amid persistent cost-of-living pressures and weak consumer demand.
Experts have criticised proposals in the Finance Bill 2026 for not reflecting Kenya's largely informal economy and for targeting sectors still in infancy, such as digital payments.
Kenya's Finance Bill 2026 proposes removing VAT exemptions on money dealings and financial services by introducing a 16% Value Added Tax on digital payment processing, transfers, and merchant acquiring services, targeting payment service providers and making transaction processing fees more expensive.
Public finance, taxation and policy experts have called for informed and inclusive engagement on Kenya's fiscal priorities during a fiscal dialogue hosted by KCA University. The forum brought together policymakers, tax practitioners, students, academics and industry players to discuss implications of the Finance and Appropriations Bill 2026, focusing on fiscal sustainability, taxation, public expenditure and stronger public participation in budget and tax policy processes.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has urged political leaders to stop spreading propaganda about the Finance Bill 2026, singling out Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka for claiming the bill contains hidden land taxation provisions. Mbadi stated the Bill focuses on improving tax administration and fairness, and warned against "whipping public emotions" to distort understanding of the proposed fiscal reforms.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's claim that the proposed Finance Bill 2026 seeks to introduce an annual rent on freehold land, stating the Bill contains no such provisions and that public debate is based on misinformation. Mbadi said the government's focus is on improving tax administration and fairness rather than introducing new levies on land ownership.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has accused opposition politicians of spreading propaganda about the Finance Bill 2026, insisting the proposed law does not contain punitive taxes as alleged and specifically denying claims that it introduces taxation on leasehold land.