Finance Bill 2025 : On the Assent Desk

Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2025, tucking away some of its sharper edges beneath a language of reform. Unlike its predecessor, whose tax hikes stoked public rage, this iteration plays a quieter game; bolstering revenue without gutting the citizen.

I am Brian from The Kenyan Wall Street and these are our day's business stories:

Alas! The Tax Bill Awaits Assent… 

Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2025, charting a more cautious fiscal path after last year’s tax turbulence. The government targets KSh 4.2 trillion in spending, with KSh 30 billion in new revenue drawn not from fresh levies but from procedural reform. Here are some of the changes :

No Tinkering with your Confidential Data 

• A controversial proposal to give KRA sweeping access to personal data was excised following privacy concerns and constitutional objections under Article 31. In an era of algorithmic overreach, legislators sided with the citizens over the state.

Gambling Tax Slashed…

• The House has voted to slash excise duty on betting from 15% to 5%, a move that is already drawing side-eyes from public. Yet, beneath this seeming concession lies a clever administrative twist: the tax is now collected not when bets are placed, but when money moves from mobile wallets to betting platforms.

Steel, Still Taxed

• A proposed reduction in the steel import levy was quietly killed on the floor of Parliament, a win for protectionism over cost relief. Manufacturers, whose court challenges failed to sway Treasury, must now continue paying the 17.5% Export Promotion Levy introduced in 2023. Construction, already bleeding from inflated input prices, finds no reprieve in a sector where local production still lags behind demand.

Importers, Declare Thy Origins

• In a bid to tame fraudulent imports disguised as raw materials, Parliament has mandated stricter documentation for all inbound goods. Certificates of origin must now be verified by credible institutions, closing a loophole that has long enabled edible oil smugglers and tax evaders. It's a small but forceful assertion of order in a chaotic customs landscape. For traders used to grey zones, the margins just got tighter.

Your Opinion

The Lethargic Postman : Delays and Complaints

The Postal Corporation (POSTA) is facing mounting criticism from e-commerce shoppers frustrated by delays, opaque tracking, and unreliable service, particularly for deliveries from platforms like AliExpress and Shein. Despite charging a KES 100 handling fee per item, customers routinely encounter lost parcels, late arrivals, and zero digital updates, with many only discovering their package has arrived after repeated visits to the post office. As a result, a growing number are opting for pricier but more predictable alternatives like Speedaf, G4S, and Fargo, which offer real-time tracking and consistent delivery timelines.

 Old Rules with New Teeth

The transport ministry has rolled out a new slate of traffic regulations that dust off familiar laws and reframe them with sharper enforcement. Mandatory inspections will now apply to vehicles over four years old, with private testing centers licensed to ease the burden on overstretched government facilities. School transport faces the tightest leash; buses must be belted, tracked, color-coded, and run by vetted staff, with weekend freelancing strictly banned. Even drunk driving laws, long hazy in court, now come with defined alcohol thresholds, testing protocols, and escalating penalties.

NSE Gainers And Losers

Also Read…

Opinion 

On your watchlist

Keep up with what’s happening on our X and LinkedIn pages. Stay updated with the latest financial news on our website The Kenyan Wall Street.