Mbadi makes special appeal to youth on Finance Bill 2025
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has made a special appeal to the youth on the Finance Bill 2025, which will shape the tax regime in the 2025/2026 Financial Year.
Speaking to the youth on Friday, May 16, 2025, Mbadi termed the Finance Bill as a legislation which seeks to amend tax laws to bring clarity where there is ambiguity.
He says that this year’s Finance Bill seeks to address several tax loopholes in the country, including the ones that tax cheats use, especially on scrupulous businesspeople who ask for tax refunds on zero-rated commodities. The CS also explained that the Finance Bill seeks to expand the tax base.
“Before muanguke na hii Finance Bill yangu I want you to understand what is in the bill. Finance Bill tries to amend various legislations on taxes to bring clarity where there is ambiguity,” Mbadi stated.
“We are targeting a problem in our laws called tax expenditure, which is tax refunds. We are receiving a lot of fake claims from businesspeople and accountants.”
The CS also asked Kenyans to differentiate between the Finance Bill and the Budget estimates, which for long have been mistaken for each other. He explained that the Finance Bill stipulates measures by the government to raise taxes while the Budget estimates stipulate how the government will spend its income.
Finance Bill 2025 and budget estimates for the financial year 2025/2026 were received by the National Assembly as confirmed by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula during the Wednesday, April 30, 2025, session.
While confirming its submission to parliament, Wetang’ula announced that it will be committed to the Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning for consideration.
According to the speaker, the public will be allowed to give their views upon first reading and publication.
The bill and the budget were transmitted to parliament after the cabinet approved it in a move it said is aimed at tightening Kenya’s fiscal belt while sparking reforms across the taxation landscape.
A Cabinet despatch sent to newsrooms on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, stated the Bill “focuses primarily on closing loopholes and enhancing efficiency, including addressing loopholes related to tax expenditures that have historically been exploited to siphon funds from public coffers, such as through inflated tax refund claims.”
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Francis Muli
Francis Muli is a passionate digital journalist with over seven years of experience in crafting compelling stories across various platforms. His major focus is in business, politics and current affairs. He brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to uncovering the truth. He has contributed to leading publications across the country. When not chasing stories, you can find Muli exploring new technologies, attending local events, or reading fiction. Connect with Francis Muli on X @FMuliKE and Facebook (Francis Muli) to follow his latest stories and insights.
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