Government Dismisses Finance Bill Misinformation, Raises Alarm Over Rising Child AbductionsWriting
The Government has dismissed what it describes as misleading claims surrounding the Finance Bill 2026 while at the same time raising concern over an alarming rise in child abductions, disappearances, and trafficking cases across the country.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Harambee Annex in Nairobi on Tuesday, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura sought to reassure Kenyans over concerns regarding the proposed Finance Bill 2026, accusing critics of spreading misinformation and politically motivated narratives aimed at causing panic among citizens.
Mwaura urged Kenyans to read and understand the bill instead of relying on what he termed as “negative energies, misinformation and disinformation” circulating online.
The Government dismissed several claims that have generated public anxiety, including allegations that the Finance Bill seeks to introduce a motor vehicle circulation tax, impose fresh taxes on Mitumba clothes, increase rental income tax, tax bread, or allow unrestricted access to personal mobile money transactions by tax authorities.
According to the Government Spokesman, some controversial proposals initially discussed were either revised or completely dropped before publication by the National Treasury. Among those reportedly abandoned are plans to increase residential rental income tax from 7.5 percent to 10 percent and proposals introducing a simplified taxation framework for Mitumba traders.
Mwaura further clarified that reports claiming bread would attract VAT and that the Kenya Revenue Authority would have unrestricted access to citizens’ mobile money records are false, maintaining that privacy and data protection laws remain firmly in place.
On concerns regarding smartphones and digital taxation, the Government explained that the proposed excise duty merely consolidates existing taxes into a simplified framework without imposing additional burdens on ordinary Kenyans.
At the same time, the Government defended regulations targeting cryptocurrency and virtual asset service providers, arguing that the measures are intended to improve transparency and accountability in the rapidly expanding digital financial sector.
Mwaura also highlighted several relief measures contained in the proposed Finance Bill, including VAT exemptions on dialysis equipment, agricultural inputs, animal feed production, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, sugarcane transport, solar batteries, electric buses, electric bicycles, and bioethanol vapor stoves aimed at lowering costs and supporting key sectors of the economy.
The proposed law also seeks to ease compliance for salaried workers by adjusting tax return filing deadlines. If approved, individual tax return filing deadlines will move from June 30 to April 30, while nil returns for individuals with no taxable income would be due by January 31 each year.
Meanwhile, the Government raised alarm over what it termed a worrying increase in child abductions, trafficking, disappearances, and violence against minors, describing the trend as a growing national crisis threatening child safety.
Citing data from the Child Protection Information Management System, Mwaura revealed that 10,581 child protection cases were reported between January 2025 and March 2026. The figures include 6,820 cases of child abandonment, 1,952 abductions, 1,636 missing children reports, and 173 trafficking cases.
The Government strongly condemned child abductions, trafficking, abuse, and killings, terming them hideous crimes that continue to devastate families and communities.
Authorities said multi-agency interventions are already underway, including rescue operations, family tracing and reunification programmes, psychosocial support services, alternative family care, and legal action against suspects linked to crimes against children.
Children Advisory Committees have also been established across counties to strengthen child protection systems and ensure faster responses to reported cases.
Mwaura warned parents and guardians to heighten vigilance, especially during school commuting hours, which officials say have increasingly become high-risk periods for children.
Parents were urged to personally pick up children where possible, ensure minors travel with trusted adults, avoid leaving children under the care of strangers, and educate them on personal safety, including avoiding gifts, lifts, sweets, or interactions with unknown individuals.
Schools were also urged to tighten transport and child handover procedures to ensure learners are only released to authorized guardians.
The Government further encouraged members of the public to report cases involving missing children, trafficking, abuse, neglect, violence, or online exploitation through the national child helpline 116 or via WhatsApp number 0722 116116.
