Mbadi accuses Opposition of misleading Kenyans using ‘non-existent’ Finance Bill clauses

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is accusing the United Opposition of importing non-existent clauses into the 2026 Finance Bill to incite Kenyans.

While maintaining that the tax bill is designed to ease taxpayers’ burden, Mbadi says the opposition’s call for a rejection of the bill in its entirety is political and meant to mislead Kenyans, instead calling for an objective analysis of the money bill.

With tax-raising measures narrowing, and the Country's borrowing edging towards the ceiling – Treasury Cabinet Secretary came out in defence of his only revenue-generating option, the Finance Bill 2026. First in his line of fire – Kalonzo Musyoka, accusing the Wiper leader and the United Opposition of importing non-existent clauses in the Bill currently before Parliament.

“Can Kalonzo Musyoka tell the people of Kenya the particular clause in the Bill we submitted to Parliament which is being discussed, where it mentions taxation on land: freehold or leasehold,” Mbadi fired.

Aware of the Country’s fast-expanding digital economy, the government proposed to a 25 per cent excise duty on telephones and wireless networks, a move that has caused uproar as Kenyans bank, communicate and conduct business using mobile phones.

CS Mbadi sought to give justification: “We are saying that we are replacing that, all those complications with a simple one, where you bring in the phone, and there are no taxes. Only by the time you activate the phone is when you pay 25% excise duty.”

Despite earlier pledging to lessen PAYE by 5%, the CS fell short of giving a befitting answer for not keeping the pledge.

“Though this didn’t make it to the Finance Bill and is still being explored by the technical teams. The National Treasury remains committed to maintaining a balanced fiscal framework that supports mobilisation and economic sustainability,” said Mbadi.

Treasury targets to raise Ksh.3.63 trillion from the tax measures contained in the bill.