CS Mbadi Invites Kenyans to Submit Tax Reform Ideas

Treasury CS John Mbadi during a consultative discussion with representatives from the National Gender and Equality Commission on December 5,2024.
Treasury CS John Mbadi during a consultative discussion with representatives from the National Gender and Equality Commission on December 5, 2024.
National Treasury

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called on Kenyans to make suggestions for the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2025/2026.

In a notice dated Tuesday, December 17, Mbadi stated that the submissions could include revenue administration reforms and measures to support the growth of the manufacturing sector.

He added that people can also suggest measures to enhance macroeconomic stability and implementation of programs and projects by the current administration.

Kenyans were also advised to make recommendations on the tax laws that should be amended and that the recommendations should be supported by a clear justification for the proposal.

A graphic showing taxes and the Kenyan flag in the background.
A graphic showing taxes and the Kenyan flag in the background.
Photo
Canva

Mbadi explained that the call for submissions was in line with Articles 201 and 232(1)(d) of the Constitution and Section 35 of the Public Finance Management Act, which require openness and accountability, including public participation in financial matters.

“The National Treasury hereby invites the members of the public, the national government and county governments, non-governmental organisations, civil societies, professional bodies, private sector players, and religious groups to make submissions for consideration in the preparation of the fiscal budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026,” read part of the notice.

“The proposals received will guide the reforms to be undertaken to foster inclusive economic growth for the welfare of all Kenyans,” Mbadi further stated.

According to the CS, hard copies of the proposals should be submitted to the treasury offices, while the soft copies of the same should be sent through email submissions@treasury.go.ke no later than Friday, January 17, 2025.

The announcement comes three months after CS Mbadi officially launched the 2025/2026 budget preparation process for the medium term, where he explained the status of the budget-making process for the upcoming fiscal year and outlined new measures that have been recommended. 

While addressing delegates at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), on September 16, Mbadi explained that the government would switch to zero-based budgeting.

Zero-based budgeting is a budgeting process that allocates funding based on program efficiency and necessity rather than budget history

With this approach, ministries and departments under the national government would create budgets from scratch instead of using previous trends of preparing for the budget.

Mbadi Ruto
President William Ruto, accompanied by Treasury CS John Mbadi at the Inua Biashara MSME Exhibition at the KICC in Nairobi on October 17, 2024. PHOTO/ William Ruto
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