No additional taxes, we must tighten our belts; Kindiki says on Finance Bill 2025

Speaking during an Economic Empowernment program in Kitui South, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki outlined the fiscal discipline to be imposed across all levels of government.

"We have decided that there will be no additional taxes. We must all tighten our belts, the Government included," Kindiki declared.

The Deputy President announced a firm stance against tax evasion, promising strict measures against those who exploit loopholes in the tax system.

"We will put in measures to seal all loopholes used by crooked people to evade paying taxes. We will be ruthless with those who aid tax evasion," he stated.

Kindiki assured Kenyans that the government would demonstrate accountability in the management of public resources, promising visible development projects that would benefit citizens directly.

"We will ensure all your taxes are well utilised. We are an accountable Government. You will see value for your money in roads, markets, affordable housing, last-mile connectivity, and other transformative development programmes from the grassroots. That is bottom-up," the Deputy President emphasized.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is today expected to present the 2025/2026 budget at Parliament buildings in Nairobi.

President Ruto’s government is set to spend over Ksh.4.2 trillion in the 2025/26 financial year, which the exchequer aims to finance through debt, ordinary revenue, grants, fees charged for government service, and borrowing.

CS Mbadi has defended the government’s move to give the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) powers to access the personal and financial data of Kenyans.

Through the 2025 Finance Bill, the Treasury wants Section 59A(1B) of the Tax Procedures Act, which bars tax bodies from compelling businesses to share customer personal data, deleted.

Mbadi has previously said KRA is not seeking to access Kenyans' personal or private data, telling Citizen TV on Monday that the taxman only wants financial information from banks and financial institutions to verify the accuracy of people’s tax returns.