Kilifi residents oppose new taxes during Finance Bill hearings
Among the proposals that attracted the most criticism were taxes on mobile phones upon activation, digital transactions, bank cards and betting winnings. Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
Kilifi residents have voiced strong opposition to several tax proposals within the Finance Bill 2026, particularly those impacting digital services and mobile devices, during recent public participation hearings.
- Key concerns include increased costs for essential communication and financial services, disproportionately affecting low-income households.
- The National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee is collecting feedback from across the country.
- Taxes on mobile phone activations, digital transactions, bank cards, and betting winnings were among the most criticized proposals, with debates also centering on the potential impact of betting taxes on unregulated platforms.
Continue Reading
Read the complete article from Capital Business
Part of the Day's Coverage
Deadlock in Revenue Talks as MPs Offer Counties Sh425bn - June 2026
Mediation talks between Kenya's National Assembly and the Senate over county revenue allocation have hit a deadlock, with the two Houses far apart on the proposed amounts. The Senate and National Assembly are nearing a deal on counties' revenue sharing, with key negotiations centering on a provision to protect devolved units from sudden funding cuts. In related developments, Kilifi residents have voiced strong opposition to several tax proposals within the Finance Bill 2026, particularly those impacting digital services and mobile devices, during public participation hearings. Meanwhile, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers is warning that proposed tax changes in the Finance Bill 2026 could significantly increase the cost of essential products like electric motorcycles and mobile phones.
