Stop creating unnecessary panic over Finance Bill 2026, Gov't tells critics

The government has moved to calm growing public anxiety over the Finance Bill 2026, dismissing claims circulating online as misleading, inaccurate, and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura accused critics of spreading false information about the proposed tax measures.

“The ongoing misinformation campaign being spread by some individuals is creating unnecessary panic among Kenyans,” Mwaura said.

To reassure the public, Mwaura urged citizens to read the Finance Bill themselves instead of relying on what he described as “negative, inflammatory, and misinformed” narratives circulating online.

According to Mwaura, several controversial proposals initially discussed were either dropped or revised before the publication of the Bill by the National Treasury.

He clarified that the proposal to increase residential rent tax from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent was dropped. Plans to introduce a simplified tax framework targeting Mitumba traders were also abandoned.

The government spokesperson further explained that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will continue to require unrestricted access to personal mobile money transactions.

“The existing privacy and data protection laws remain fully in force. No Kenyan’s personal financial information will be accessed outside the law,” he said.

Mwaura defended the Finance Bill, saying it contains several relief measures aimed at lowering the tax burden on households while supporting critical sectors of the economy.

"Among the proposed exemptions are VAT-free dialysis equipment to support kidney treatment services, tax exemptions on agricultural inputs and animal feed production, incentives for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and VAT exemptions on the transportation of sugarcane from farms to factories,” he said.