Numerous government agencies are failing to comply with President William Ruto's directive to migrate services to the e-Citizen platform, significantly lagging behind the targeted transition rate.

• Only 1,695 government services have been migrated, falling far short of the annual target of 11,000 services.
• The slowdown impacts the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang'o, who oversees compliance with the presidential order issued in 2023.
• This non-compliance hinders efforts to improve service access, increase revenue transparency, and combat corruption.

Kenya has significantly increased the duty-free allowance for travellers, raising the threshold to Sh260,000 for goods brought into the country. This change aims to ease the tax burden on returning Kenyans and other visitors.

• New duty-free allowance: Sh260,000 (up from Sh39,000)
• Announcement by: President William Ruto
• Context: Decision follows public criticism regarding luggage inspections and taxes at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

An economist assesses the lingering impact of Kenya's 2024 Gen-Z protests, which initially targeted tax increases but broadened to critique governance and the cost of living.

• The protests have made the Kenyan government more cautious on tax policy, leading to dropped or watered-down measures and a shift towards less politically controversial fees and levies.
• XN Iraki, an economist, notes that while budgets now include more youth-focused programs, youth unemployment remains high at 67%.
• Key issues like corruption, jobs, and inequality remain unresolved, posing a risk for future political mobilization, especially with the 2027 general election approaching.