The Cabinet gave a thumbs-up to Finance Bill 2025, which aims to fix tax gaps rather than add new taxes. After meeting with President Ruto at State House, officials said they want better money collection through smarter management instead of fresh tax rules. Changes will make tax refunds easier, tighten laws about tax evasion, and patch holes people use to avoid paying what they owe. Small business owners can write off their tool and equipment costs right away instead of spreading them over the years.
This comes after last year's Finance Bill 2024 sparked huge protests led by young people. Those riots turned deadly and damaged Parliament when angry crowds set parts of the building on fire. Ruto refused to sign that bill on June 26, 2024, noting how much people hated it. He sent it back to lawmakers, asking them to remove everything from the bill. The National Assembly speaker had to form a committee to look at the president's concerns about the old bill.
Any new tax plans must go through public meetings where citizens can speak up before becoming law.
This comes after last year's Finance Bill 2024 sparked huge protests led by young people. Those riots turned deadly and damaged Parliament when angry crowds set parts of the building on fire. Ruto refused to sign that bill on June 26, 2024, noting how much people hated it. He sent it back to lawmakers, asking them to remove everything from the bill. The National Assembly speaker had to form a committee to look at the president's concerns about the old bill.
Any new tax plans must go through public meetings where citizens can speak up before becoming law.
