Kenya's Finance Bill 2025: A Controversial Fast-Track Passage?

Kenya's Finance Bill 2025 Sparks Controversy: Experts Criticize 'Rush' to Enactment. NAIROBI, KENYA – The passage of Kenya's Finance Bill 2025 has ignited a heated debate, with critics accusing parliament of rushing the process without adequate public input. Experts and tech companies have voiced strong opposition to certain clauses, particularly one that would allow the KRA Commissioner-General automatic access to trade secrets and personal information of taxpayers. However, members of the National Assembly's Finance Committee have defended the process, stating that it adheres to established parliamentary procedures. "There is nothing unprocedural," Kuria Kimani, the committee chairman, stated in an interview featured in the video. "There is already a precedence to this resolution made by the house on the 30th of February." The committee insists that public hearings are ongoing and that the bill's first reading is merely a procedural step. This statement contrasts sharply with the concerns raised by those who feel the process has been too hasty and lacks transparency. The ongoing public hearings and the committee's continued engagement with stakeholders will be crucial in resolving this controversy.