ICHUNG'WAH : WE PASSED THE 2024 FINANCE BILL SECRETLY

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has acknowledged that nearly all of the Finance Bill 2024 was pushed through Parliament last December — months after the deadly anti-finance bill protests , which had forced the government to withdraw its original version.

Addressing worshippers at PCEA Kikuyu on Sunday, Ichung’wah explained that the government put the bill on hold last June to ease public tensions. However, by the end of the year, most of its proposals — about 97 per cent — were quietly reintroduced under two separate laws: the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024.

“We tried to enlighten them, but they did not listen to us. Finally, we decided not to pass it until people cooled down,” Ichung’wah said .

“On December 4, everything that was in the Finance Bill was passed quietly, without any deaths or throwing stones, " he added.

He furthered that only a few clauses — roughly three per cent — were removed after public outcry led to the “Don’t amend, reject” campaign.

Proposals that were scrapped included the 16 per cent VAT on bread, cooking oil, eggs, and other basic foods; the 1.5 per cent Digital Service Tax and the 6 per cent Significant Economic Presence tax — which were replaced with a lower SEP rate of around three per cent — as well as taxes on motor vehicles and eco-levies on items like diapers and phones.

In its final version, the December legislation also raised the ceiling for tax-deductible pension contributions, exempted payments to the Affordable Housing program, and introduced a 15 per cent global minimum tax for multinational companies.

Ichung’wah dismissed claims that the Finance Bill targeted local producers of sanitary towels and diapers, arguing that the import-only tax was meant to support local factories and “creates jobs for young people.”

He also defended the move to revive the bill, pointing out that tax revenues had already risen by Ksh 187 billion by May 2025 — enough to restart major development projects. Treasury projections suggest total collections will reach Ksh 346 billion by June 2025, with Ichung’wah noting that postponing the bill for six months had already cost the state an estimated Ksh 160 billion.

Ichung’wah’s remarks come at a period where the nation is facing an unrest due to hightened taxations, dismal accountability, police brutality and abductions. This very remarks have sparked fresh backlash from Kenyans with the tragic memories still vivid.

The GenZ, who led last year’s protests plan to hold demonstrations on Wednesday, June 25 — the anniversary of the original Finance Bill protests — arguing that his comments confirm their fears that the contested tax measures had been privily reinstated .