Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has appealed to Kenyan youth to carefully read and understand the Finance Bill 2025 before forming opinions or rejecting it. Speaking during a public participation forum with university students and youth representatives from across the country, Mbadi emphasized the importance of informed engagement with fiscal policy.
“Before muanguke na hii Finance Bill yangu vile mulianguka na ile ingine (before you reject my Bill like you did the previous one), take your time and understand what is in it,” Mbadi urged, highlighting the need for deeper comprehension of the bill’s contents.
The CS noted that the primary objective of the proposed bill is to streamline tax administration and enhance efficiency in the tax system. He clarified that contrary to public misconceptions, the bill is not designed to introduce new tax burdens or increase existing rates.
“This Finance Bill has no major adjustments in tax rates. We are not really using this Bill to raise more revenue through additional or varied taxes,” he said.
Mbadi also called for greater public understanding of the distinction between budget estimates and the Finance Bill itself, explaining that confusion between the two often leads to misinformation.
“You will hear many people saying that the price of bread has gone up in the budget. The budget can never increase the cost of bread; what can increase it is the Finance Bill. These are totally different things,” he clarified.
He acknowledged the impact of last year’s demonstrations against the previous Finance Bill and assured the youth that the government had taken public sentiment into account. The protests, he said, informed a more thoughtful and cautious approach in drafting the 2025 proposal.
“We noticed that Kenyans don’t want higher tax rates and that we need a stable, predictable, and certain tax regime. That understanding guided the preparation of this year’s Finance Bill,” Mbadi stated.
He encouraged the youth to participate in discussions on national fiscal policies constructively, noting that their voices are critical in shaping a tax system that works for all.
