Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has escalated the political battle over the Finance Bill 2026, urging lawmakers to reject the proposed legislation and warning that Kenyans will closely monitor how each Member of Parliament votes on a matter he says directly affects their welfare.
In a statement issued ahead of Thursday's vote in the National Assembly, Mr Gachagua described the debate as a defining moment for the country, arguing that legislators must choose between standing with ordinary citizens or supporting measures that could worsen the cost of living.
"Today's vote at the National Assembly for or against the 2026 Finance Bill is a defining moment for the people of the Republic of Kenya," Mr Gachagua said.
The former deputy president directed legislators allied to his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) to oppose the Bill and remain in the House to force a division vote, ensuring the public knows how each MP casts their ballot.
"Our DCP Party allied members have instructions to vote against the Finance Bill 2026 and stay in the House to force a Division. The people of Kenya must know who is for or against them," he said.
Mr Gachagua further argued that legislators who avoid the vote should not escape public accountability.
"Those members who keep away from the vote and sit on the fence must be deemed to be against the people of Kenya. There is no neutral position when the welfare of the people of Kenya is at stake."
Shadow of 2024 protests
The debate over the Finance Bill 2026 is taking place under the shadow of the historic anti-tax protests of June 2024, when thousands of mainly young Kenyans took to the streets to oppose the Finance Bill 2024.
The demonstrations, organised largely through social media, culminated in protesters breaching Parliament buildings on June 25, 2024, forcing President William Ruto to abandon the legislation despite its passage by the National Assembly. The President later announced that he would not sign the Bill into law, acknowledging the public's opposition to the proposed tax measures.
The protests transformed Kenya's political landscape and exposed growing public frustration over taxation, unemployment, public debt and the rising cost of living. More than 50 people were reported killed during the demonstrations, according to international media reports, while rights organisations documented cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests allegedly targeting government critics and protest organisers. The government has consistently denied involvement in illegal abductions and maintained that security agencies operate within the law.
Ruto, Mbadi defend Bill
President William Ruto and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi have sought to distinguish the Finance Bill 2026 from the controversial proposals that triggered the 2024 protests.
Speaking during the budget-making process, Mr Mbadi repeatedly insisted that the government was not introducing new taxes but was instead seeking to improve tax administration and seal loopholes that allow revenue leakages.
"The Finance Bill doesn't have to always adjust tax rates upwards," Mr Mbadi said, adding that the proposals focus on tax administration and improving compliance rather than imposing new burdens on taxpayers.
He has also dismissed claims that the Bill introduces fresh charges on mobile money transactions, saying: "We are not introducing any other extra charges that are going to affect money transfer through MPesa."
The government's position mirrors President Ruto's recent argument that Kenya must expand revenue collection without hurting struggling households. Administration officials have maintained that the Bill largely seeks to enhance efficiency, fairness and compliance within the tax system rather than increase tax rates.
Sifuna's warning
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been among the most vocal critics of unpopular tax measures in recent years.
During the 2024 Finance Bill debate, Mr Sifuna threatened to pursue the recall of MPs who supported the legislation, saying he was proud of lawmakers who opposed the Bill and stood with citizens.
His position has continued to resonate with sections of the public who view Parliament as the ultimate battleground in the struggle between revenue collection and the economic pressures facing households.
Political consequences
The Finance Bill 2026 vote is expected to serve as more than a fiscal decision. Political analysts say it could become an early test of political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election, particularly as opposition leaders seek to tap into the anti-establishment sentiment that emerged during the Gen Z-led protests.
For Mr Gachagua, the vote presents an opportunity to portray himself as the political heir to the protest movement that forced the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024. For the Kenya Kwanza administration, however, the challenge remains convincing Kenyans that the latest proposals are fundamentally different from those that sparked the largest anti-government demonstrations in recent history.
As MPs prepare to cast their votes, many Kenyans will be watching not only the fate of the Finance Bill but also which side of the political divide their elected representatives choose to stand on.
