Will This Finance Bill Finally Respect the Kenyan Hustle?

If there’s anything to take from today’s live broadcasts and Friday shows dissecting the 2025 Finance Bill, it’s this:

The government is treading on thin ice – aware that one misstep could cost not just public goodwill, but also political capital.

This year’s Finance Bill isn’t shouting at you.

It’s whispering – strategic, calculated, even a little bit sheepish. Gone are the days of audacious tax proposals that stoked national outrage.

In their place is a subtler strategy: expand the base, tighten compliance, trim fat. No dramatic new taxes. No theatrical budget hikes, but the results are still the same.

A vendor buys fish from a fisherman on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Homa Bay County (Image: Files)

Digital Media, Idle Land and Eco Dreams

One of the more quietly controversial moves is the proposed 16% VAT on digital media – think Netflix, Spotify, and yes, even your internet radio.

In a country where the youth retreat into online spaces for escape, learning, and hustle, this feels more like a creeping intrusion than a revenue solution.

And with digital freedoms already under pressure, taxing them might feel like double jeopardy.

Another quiet storm brews in the countryside, where landowners with idle property might soon face new levies. The logic? Unlock productivity and curb speculation.

The fear? Overreach, bureaucracy, and exploitation in counties where titling remains a bureaucratic nightmare.

Then there’s the eco-levy – a noble idea if executed right, but currently raising eyebrows for its vague definitions and lack of clarity on who actually foots the bill: manufacturers, importers, or consumers?

Drawing the Line on Personal Financial Data

Perhaps the most incendiary aspect – surfacing repeatedly on today’s talk shows – is the proposal to give the Kenya Revenue Authority broader access to your personal financial data.

That’s right: MPESA records, bank transactions, maybe even your loan apps. All in the name of improving compliance.

For a public still reeling from privacy breaches and digital surveillance fears, this is fuel to a smouldering fire. Critics argue that fighting tax evasion shouldn’t mean policing every citizen’s mobile wallet.

Where do we draw the line between smart enforcement and state overreach?

A Kinder, People-Conscious Budget

The government is presenting this as a people-conscious budget – one that respects last year’s revolt and retreats from aggressive taxation.

But seasoned economists warn: if revenue targets fail, we could see supplementary budgets and sneaky amendments by November.

And as Kenya commits to capping its fiscal deficit at 4.5% of GDP, questions linger. Is that target realistic? Or is it the kind of political optimism that fades once the books stop balancing?

Public Participation and Performance

Public submissions on the Bill are open until May 27, but skepticism remains.

On radio shows and social media, Kenyans are asking: does public input actually shape final outcomes, or is this a box-ticking ritual?

There’s also a growing demand to digitize public participation – make it inclusive, mobile-first, and truly accessible.

Financial Bill that’s also a Social  Barometer

The 2025 Finance Bill isn’t just a fiscal instrument – it’s a mirror. It reflects our anxieties about governance, privacy, digital life, and national direction.

Whether it inspires confidence or cynicism will depend on what happens next: not just in Parliament, but in the public square.

One thing is clear though.

The Kenyan citizen is awake, alert and no longer fooled by fine print.

Catholic bishops caution that the Finance Bill 2024 will cause significant hardship for Kenyans

The Catholic bishops of the country have strongly criticized the Finance Bill 2024, urging President William Ruto’s government to refrain from passing it in its current state.

They have called on members of parliament to amend the bill, particularly in areas that are causing anxiety among citizens.

In their statement, the bishops urged the president to establish a tax system that is predictable and fosters economic growth.

“It is our firm belief that the Finance Bill 2024, if approved in its current form, will be harsh and inflict significant hardship on Kenyans. While we recognize the government’s obligation to raise taxes to fund public services, we are deeply troubled by several proposed revenue measures in the bill,” said Fr. James Waweru in the statement.

The church also expressed concern about entrenched corruption in some institutions and the squandering of public resources on non-essential activities.

“We observe that addressing corruption and curtailing wastage of available resources could generate ample revenue to support essential services, thereby alleviating the burden on Kenyans grappling with a high cost of living.”

The bishops emphasized the government’s duty to ensure citizens’ access to basic necessities through policies that promote the nation’s common good.

Following their examination of the proposed Finance Bill, the bishops warned that essential goods such as bread would be adversely affected, disproportionately impacting the poorest members of society.

Regarding the proposed 2.5% tax on motor vehicles, the Church cautioned that this would burden ordinary citizens by potentially raising public transport fares.

“While this tax could potentially enhance tax collection and improve road infrastructure, we question its public service benefit,” they added.

The bishops also objected to the proposed increase in the financial transaction levy from 15% to 20%, arguing that it could discourage digital transactions and prompt Kenyans to revert to traditional methods of saving money.

These concerns reflect the bishops’ broader apprehension about the bill’s potential impact on small traders, whom the Kenya Kwanza administration claims to champion.