Wamuzi News Ke
The controversial Finance Bill 2025 has been hurriedly thrust into the hands of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning — a full three weeks before Parliament is even set to reconvene on May 27.
This sudden move comes after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula issued an emergency directive, fast-tracking the Bill’s scrutiny and labeling it a “top-tier legislative priority”. The directive follows pressure from the Leader of the Majority Party, who demanded the Bill take center stage when the House resumes.
The Bill — quietly published on May 6 — is already at the First Reading stage, signaling an unusually accelerated legislative process. It proposes sweeping overhauls to tax and duty frameworks, sending ripples through economic circles and sparking debates across the nation.
In a dramatic notice (Notification No. 008 of 2025) issued during Parliament’s recess, Speaker Wetang’ula invoked Standing Order 42(2), stating unequivocally that the Bill is “of urgent national importance.” The Speaker directed that it be dispatched immediately to the relevant committee for speedy analysis and public consultation — a move rarely seen during a parliamentary break.
The Clerk of the National Assembly has been activated to alert all MPs and mobilize public hearings, ensuring stakeholder voices are captured before the House resumes.
This preemptive strike aims to wrap up early scrutiny and clear the path for a swift First Reading, potentially catching many lawmakers — and the public — off guard.
Meanwhile, the broader fiscal landscape paints a grim picture. The 2025/26 national budget is buckling under economic strain, with revised revenue projections slashed to Sh3.316 trillion (17.2% of GDP) — a dip from the previous Sh3.383 trillion (17.6%), as detailed in the Budget Policy Statement.
This includes ordinary revenue of Sh2.757 trillion and Appropriations-in-Aid of Sh559.9 billion — a modest bump of Sh11.1 billion that barely offsets the revenue drop.
With the government’s spending appetite still growing, there’s little room for new tax schemes. Instead, the Finance Bill appears laser-focused on tightening enforcement, restructuring tax incentives, and cracking down on compliance loopholes.
Critics warn that current incentives have failed to deliver broad economic benefits, favoring select industries and widening the profit gap — a claim the Bill seeks to confront with bold, potentially controversial changes.
Kenya’s fiscal future now hangs in the balance, as the Bill barrels down the fast lane of Parliament with little time for resistance or revision.
👉 Stay tuned for real-time updates as this explosive development unfolds.
