The National Assembly has officially passed the Finance Bill 2025, but not without some notable adjustments. One of the most debated proposals, which would have given the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) broad access to citizens’ financial data, was rejected by Members of Parliament.
The dropped clause would have allowed KRA to monitor mobile money activity and bank transactions without restrictions. However, MPs strongly opposed the idea, arguing that it would violate Kenyans’ constitutional right to privacy. The Finance and Planning Committee, chaired by Molo MP Kimani Kuria, concluded that the proposal did not align with Article 31 of the Constitution, which guarantees privacy rights for all citizens.
The bill was passed by acclamation on Thursday and will now be forwarded to President William Ruto for assent. While it aims to raise Sh24 billion in revenue for the 2025/26 financial year, that figure falls short of the Treasury’s earlier goal of Sh30 billion.
Despite the scaled-back revenue projections, the revised version of the Finance Bill reflects lawmakers’ effort to balance fiscal policy with constitutional safeguards. By shelving the data access clause, Parliament has sent a clear message about the importance of protecting individual rights in tax administration.
By Yockshard Enyendi
