FINANCE BILL 2025-26: LEADERS CALL FOR CITIZENS’ INVOLVEMENT IN FINANCE BILL PROPOSALS

SOME PROPOSALS IN THE FINANCE BILL 2025-26 TO TAKE EFFECT ON JULY 1

Several leaders in the country have issued a call for public participation in the process of passing the proposed finance bill 2025-26. They stress that involving citizens will help prevent incidents like those witnessed during the passage of the 2024 finance bill.

As the finance bill 2025/26 undergoes public participation before parliamentary debate and enactment; citizens are encouraged to review the bill and contribute their suggestions. The national treasury notes that the bill includes major amendments aimed at closing tax loopholes and improving efficiency.

The finance and planning committee of the national assembly, led by molo mp kuria kimani, has especially invited Kenyan youth to participate by submitting feedback digitally, removing the need for physical attendance.

The finance bill 2025, tabled in parliament on april 30, 2025, proposes changes to several tax laws, including the income tax act, the value added tax act, and the excise duty act. Twelve counties — laikipia, elgeyo marakwet, nandi, makueni, migori, nyeri, trans nzoia, uasin gishu, wajir, samburu, and kwale — have been identified for public participation exercises, whose input will help shape the bill ahead of the sh4.24 trillion budget presentation in june.

This follows the rejection of the 2024 finance bill, which saw large public opposition and widespread unrest and casualties due to the turmoil surrounding the bill.

Meanwhile, Machakos deputy governor Francis mwangangi has emphasized the need for citizen involvement in the 2025/26 finance bill process to prevent misunderstandings and division. He cautioned that rushing the bill without adequate public consultation could lead to instability.

National Assembly Finance Committee chairperson Kuria Kimani has also revealed that the Finance Bill 2025 will grant KRA access to citizens’ data and businesses.

Section 59, 1B, reads, “Furnish information relating to the tax liability of any person in the manner and by the time as specified in the notice.”

The bill proposes: “Section 59A of the Tax Procedures Act is amended by deleting subsection (1B).”

He stated this is a move that most will affect most of the Kenyans as their data is private and confidential.

“One of the issues that is coming out clearly from the counties that we have visited is the issue of data privacy. Many Kenyans have come out and said that they do not think KRA, having access to their private data, is good,” he stated.

“The one thing Kenyans have said that they do not want is having KRA to access their private data. For instance, here in Kiambu, the AAK has said that when they are drawing a house design for someone, that information is private and therefore, they will find it very difficult to share that information with KRA.”

It is also stated that KRA has been accessing citizens’ data and their financial statements.

“They are wondering because the provisions in the Tax Procedures Act state that KRA can access your financial data. So the question is, why should they be given permission to access trade secrets and other private data?” Kimani reported.

KRA has also supported to delete section 59, 1B of the Tax Procedures Act, as it will enable them to catch tax cheats and money launders.

“For instance, if KRA wants to know whether entity A is declaring their fair share of tax, we ask them for their bank account, and then they will provide us with their bank statements. KRA will then look at the bank statements and compare them with what has been declared as their income, and if there are any variances, we always come back and ask why there are any differences.”