Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo Defends Finance Bill 2026, Urges Kenyans Not to Fall for “Propaganda”

By Gedion Nzyoki - 

• Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo has defended the proposed Finance Bill 2026, urging Kenyans to remain patient and avoid misinformation surrounding the tax proposals.
• She insisted the Bill does not introduce punitive taxes that would directly burden ordinary citizens and small-scale traders.
• Omanyo also questioned critics of the Bill, saying Kenyans should scrutinize claims being made against the proposed legislation.

Nairobi, Kenya| May 26, 2026- Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has defended the proposed Finance Bill 2026, urging Kenyans to remain patient and avoid being misled by what she termed as propaganda surrounding the proposed tax measures.

Busia Women Representative Hon. Catherine Omanyo delivering her remarks at the Nairobi Serena Hotel. Photo: KEWOPA Kenya (Facebook).

Speaking on Tuesday morning at the iconic Nairobi Serena Hotel during an engagement on the Finance Bill 2026 and the Annual National Shadow Budget (2026/2027), organized by the Institute of Public Finance (IPF) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in partnership with the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), Omanyo dismissed claims that the government had introduced punitive taxes that would directly burden ordinary citizens, insisting that no harmful tax increases had been proposed.

“I just want to urge Kenyans to be patient because where they have gotten the report we don't know. Because if something hasn't been tabled yet, who has tabled for them?” she posed.

The legislator maintained that the Finance Bill 2026 was designed to be fair to citizens across different economic levels, including small-scale traders and low-income earners.

“I want to urge all Kenyans to know that no one has increased taxes especially to things that can affect them directly,” she added 

According to Omanyo, taxation remains necessary for national development, but leaders must also ensure that tax measures do not overburden citizens.

“It is our right as citizens to pay taxes and also be sensitive enough that it is not killing us. Who do we lead if we have only graves?” she stated.

The outspoken lawmaker further argued that the proposed Finance Bill contains measures aimed at improving the country’s investment climate and unlocking employment opportunities for young people.

“The Finance Bill this year is going to be the most fair. We must also develop our nation. For us to do this we shouldn't be resisting things that can make our nation attractive, things that can unlock jobs,” Omanyo added.

She also said the Bill had taken into account the interests of ordinary Kenyans, including small traders commonly referred to as mama mboga.

“We have a lot that has been slotted in, to make sure that it replicates and touched such people,” she noted.

At the same time, Omanyo criticized individuals and groups calling for the rejection of the Bill, challenging them to clearly explain the basis of their opposition.

“Whoever is inciting Kenyans that they should reject, what are they rejecting? We should all ask questions to people telling us to reject. Let us not buy propaganda now,” she said.

Her remarks come as debate over the Finance Bill 2026 continues to dominate public discourse, with Kenyans closely monitoring proposed tax and economic reforms expected to shape the country’s fiscal direction.