Government Denies Existence of Finance Bill 2025
The government has refuted online misinformation claiming that the Finance Bill 2025 has already been proposed or tabled in Parliament, asserting that the 2025/26 Budget Process is still in its preliminary stages.
In a statement released on Monday, the government unequivocally stated that no Finance Bill 2025 has been drafted or presented anywhere. It clarified that the established budgetary timelines dictate that revenue-raising measures, such as the Finance Bill, are only formulated and released after the Draft Budget, which is expected after April 30th.
The government assured Kenyans that they will have ample opportunity to participate in scrutinizing any proposed revenue measures through a thorough public participation process, which will commence once the draft budget and subsequent finance bill are officially submitted to Parliament by the National Treasury.
The statement highlighted that the primary fiscal document released thus far is the Budget Policy Statement (BPS). The BPS outlines the government's strategic priorities and policy objectives, providing guidance for the National Government, County Governments, and Independent Constitutional Institutions in their budget preparations. The 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) marks the third such document under the current Kenya Kwanza Administration.
The government emphasized that its fiscal policy for the Financial Year 2025/26 and the medium term will prioritize fiscal consolidation to mitigate public debt vulnerabilities while ensuring sufficient fiscal space for essential public services. To enhance revenue collection, the focus will be on a combination of tax administration and tax policy reforms, explicitly denying any alleged plans for widespread tax increases. Furthermore, the government pledged to strengthen accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the management of public funds.
Tags: Finance Bill National Treasury Isaac Mwaura
