MPs pass 2026 Finance Bill, await President William Ruto's assent

MPs pass 2026 Finance Bill, await President William Ruto's assent
MPs pass 2026 Finance Bill, await President William Ruto's assent - MPs during a past National Assembly sitting. (Photo: National Assembly)
MPs during a past National Assembly sitting. (Photo: National Assembly)

Members aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration and the broad-based government coalition backed the Bill, while allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua opposed it.

The National Assembly has passed the Finance Bill, 2026, clearing the way for President William Ruto to assent to the government's proposed tax and revenue measures for the 2026/27 financial year.
The Bill sailed through its Third Reading on Thursday after 122 MPs voted in favour against 40 who opposed it, reflecting the government's numerical strength in the House despite a coordinated pushback from the opposition.
The vote capped weeks of intense political lobbying and public debate over the legislation, which forms a key part of the government's plan to raise revenue and support implementation of the 2026/27 budget.

More To Read

Members aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration and the broad-based government coalition backed the Bill, while allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua opposed it.
Gachagua had earlier directed MPs affiliated with his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) to reject the Bill and force a division vote, a move aimed at publicly recording each legislator's position on the contentious legislation.
Advertisement
The Bill was approved after legislators adopted a series of amendments proposed by the National Assembly's Finance and National Planning Committee following public participation forums held across the country.

Latest Stories

Several proposals that had attracted criticism from businesses, civil society groups and members of the public were either dropped or revised before the final vote.
The government has maintained that the Bill seeks to enhance revenue collection while avoiding the introduction of punitive taxes that could worsen the cost of living.
The National Treasury argued that the measures contained in the Bill are necessary to support government programmes, reduce reliance on borrowing and improve tax administration
However, critics argued that some provisions could still place additional pressure on households and businesses already grappling with high operating costs and economic challenges.
With Parliament's approval secured, the Bill now awaits presidential assent before becoming law and taking effect as part of the government's fiscal framework for the 2026/27 financial year.

Other Topics To Read

Top Stories Today

Comments

0
Loading comments...

Trending

News | |
News | |
News | |
News | |
News | |
Coast | |
Health | |
National | |
Somalia | |
Sports | |

Latest Stories

Sports fandom shifting to TikTok as World Cup hits fever pitch - report
Football | |
Rwanda voices concerns about Burundi, FDLR role in DR Congo crisis
Headlines | |
Digital maternal networks: Why mothers seek support beyond Kenya’s health system
Headlines | |
India court upholds temporary Telegram ban amid exam leak concerns
Business | |
WMO Report: Africa warming faster than global average as climate disasters surge
Climate Change | |
Victor Wanyama backs AFCON 2027 to usher in new era for Kenyan football
Football | |
Kenya, Armenia sign landmark MoU on diaspora affairs cooperation
Headlines | |
Coast counties grappling with 327,000 cubic metres daily water deficit - CS Mugaa
Coast | |
EACC boss Abdi Mohamud elected to African anti-corruption body
Headlines | |
DRC Ebola cases rise to 896 with 232 deaths - health authorities
Democratic Republic Of Congo | |
Agricultural Development Corporation opposes subdivision of 250,000-acre Tana River land amid graft probes
Coast | |
New maternity package promises free delivery services for low‑income mothers
Headlines | |

Popular Stories This Week

Heavy rains forecast across Kenya this weekend, residents urged to take precautions
Charity Kilei |
Blatant disregard of court orders by state reduces Kenya to theatre of impunity
Ragow Khamis Musa |
Tanzania bans use of foreign currencies for local transactions
Maureen Kinyanjui |
Amid party turmoil, Edwin Sifuna says he’s staying put and won’t resign from ODM leadership
Lucy Mumbi |
Pakistan working on second round of US-Iran peace talks - reports
DW News |
Turkish airlines to suspend 18 international routes starting May
Mary Wambui |
KMTC announces 5,000 training slots for March 2025 intake
Charles Adinda |
State directs Saccos to cover losses from KUSCCO scandal
Eastleigh Voice Reporter |
Historical legacy: The uneasy Kenya–South Africa relationship explained
Mwangi Maina |
Govt to slash civil servants’ hardship allowances in policy overhaul, saving Sh6bn annually
Maureen Kinyanjui |
Defence CS Soipan Tuya among 52 graduates at National Defence College ceremony
Mary Wambui |
Denmark suspends green-sector work permit processing for applicants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
Rachael Mutabasi |
Oil tanker hijacked by suspected pirates off Somalia coast, 17 crew held hostage
Rachael Mutabasi |
Ex-Kenya Simbas ace Joshua Weru signs with NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
Bashir Mbuthia |
Forgot your Safaricom number? Here is a simple way to get it
Margaret Wanjiru |
JSC nominates Justice Mohamed Warsame for appointment to Supreme Court of Kenya
Carolyne Kubwa |
Eliud Kipchoge hails historic marathon day as Sawe breaks two-hour barrier
Amina Wako |
Gachagua impeachment challenged in Court as lawyers allege constitutional violations
Carolyne Kubwa |
Fuel prices in the East African region in Kenyan shillings
Charity Pancras |
Marathon world record holder Sawe receives heroic welcome after historic London Marathon triumph
Erick Kariuki |
Businesses closed, Nairobi–Garissa buses halted over Mwingi clashes
Abdirahman Khalif |
OpenAI reportedly building AI-powered smartphone to rival iPhone
Margaret Wanjiru |
Kenya’s e-waste hits record 55,956 tonnes in 2025, KNBS warns
Margaret Wanjiru |
Sabastian Sawe, Hellen Obiri carry Kenya’s hopes in London Marathon showdown
Amina Wako |
Fuel shortages spread across Ethiopia as Middle East tensions disrupt supply
Bashir Mbuthia |
KCSE exam results to be released in January as KNEC enhances cheating scrutiny
Maureen Kinyanjui |
From endometriosis, IVF to loss and healing: A journey through motherhood and grief in the ‘Circle of Hope’
Charity Kilei |
Inside Sh65,000 Adidas ‘feather shoe’ that helped Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe break marathon history
Margaret Wanjiru |
Google rolls out auto-labelling feature for NotebookLM to simplify research workflows
Margaret Wanjiru |
Ruto awards Sawe Sh8 million, car after historic sub-two-hour London Marathon run
Erick Kariuki |