Finance Committee Chair Kuria Kimani [KURIA KIMANI/X]The public participation exercise for the Finance Bill 2025 began
on Thursday as the government outlined a virtual platform for the public to
submit their views on the same.
Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson and Molo MP Kuria
Kimani urged Kenyans to actively participate in the process and express their
views.
He revealed a QR code that the stakeholders can use to access the
bill and submit their views.
“We have officially commenced public hearings on two
critical Bills: the Finance Bill, 2025, and the Virtual Asset Service Providers
Bill, 2025. The hearings are underway at the Edge Convention Centre, South C,
and will run for two weeks,” Kuria said.
“Both Bills are being reviewed concurrently, with input from
the public and key stakeholders. To ensure inclusive participation, please
submit your views virtually via the QR code.”
Speaking during a public hearing on Thursday, the finance
committee Chair stressed that online submissions will enhance inclusivity and
save on time that would have otherwise been lost should it have been a physical
exercise.
“The National Assembly committed that this time around, we would
not just have the traditional KICC meetings because there are not many people
who have the time to leave their workplaces and physically give their views,”
he explained.
The decision to digitalise the public participation process
is widely seen as a strategic move by the government to avoid the public outcry
experienced during the Finance Bill 2024.
Last year’s bill sparked widespread protests, driven largely
by perceptions of limited transparency and inadequate engagement in the process.
By shifting to a digital platform, the government aims to
enhance accessibility, streamline feedback collection, and demonstrate a
commitment to more inclusive and transparent governance.
The approach is also expected to improve efficiency and
broaden citizen involvement in shaping key fiscal policies ahead of the bill’s
formal debate.
