Unpacking Finance Bill 2025

The 2025 finance bill, touted as a measure to boost public trust by avoiding new taxes, is drawing scrutiny over provisions that could raise the cost of living and grant sweeping powers to the taxman to access personal and trade data, should the bill be implemented as is. Although the government insists that the bill is designed to raise 25-30 billion shillings without introducing additional levies, experts warn that shifting goods from zero-rated to exempt status and empowering the Kenya Revenue Authority with expanded surveillance capabilities could have far-reaching consequences.