Through its presidential candidate, Fred Matiang’i, the Jubilee Party of Kenya has declared its position on the Finance Bill 2026. The party says: Reject!
Flanked by other Jubilee party leaders, Matiang’i stated that the cost of living in Kenya has become unbearable. Yet the Finance Bill 2026 is full of punitive measures and draconian proposals.
Regarding sources of government funds, he explained that the current regime stopped working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because the institution insists on proper auditing. Yet the current government does not like to be audited.
Auditing of funds ensures that monies lent are spent for the purpose for which they were borrowed.
Taxation is off the Roof
The Jubilee leader said the government has now resorted to borrowing money from other institutions, which often dictate conditions.
Among those conditions is the manner in which the government will repay the money. In this case, the government has committed to repaying through taxation.
The government has therefore embarked on heavy taxation of basic consumables. Apparently, the most targeted products and services are those that affect the largest number of consumers. This has hurt the average Kenyan all over the country.
The government desperately wants to borrow; hence, it has been accepting those conditional loans without regard to the impact that the extra taxation is bound to have on ordinary Kenyans.
Matiang’i, speaking for Jubilee, acknowledged the reality that the foreseeable future is bleak for Kenyans. The proposed Finance Bill 2026 particularly threatens to increase taxation.
That includes increased excise duty and other levies on basic commodities and services.
Jubilee’s Advice
The Jubilee Party decried the heightened state of insecurity in the country. Mr. Matiang’i cited the resurgent theft of livestock, which has resulted in human deaths. He also cited increasing instances of homicide, femicide, and other deaths.
Matiang’i’s advice was for the government to focus on working effectively and consultatively, so that life can become bearable for the ordinary people.
He advised the officials concerned to address insecurity and not to politicize it.
His other piece of advice, just like that from the Deputy Party Leader, Jeremiah Kioni, was for government leaders to stop their obsession with Kenya’s 4th President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
They condemned the growing tendency for government leaders to link the former president to random government failures.
Meanwhile, the Jubilee Party mourned the deaths of four people who died this week. The sad incidents occurred during protests by ordinary Kenyans against the high cost of fuel. The escalating fuel costs add to an already difficult economic situation.
Kenyans are looking forward to a situation where the cost of living will be bearable. They are looking forward to a situation where taxation will not be so high as to discourage business and employment.
As it were, many Kenyans have recently lost their jobs as companies wind down operations due to myriad challenges.