People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has sharply criticised the Finance Bill 2026, describing it as a replica of the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which sparked widespread public opposition nationwide.

In an interview with a local radio station on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Karua argued that the new Finance Bill contains many of the same punitive tax measures that Kenyans overwhelmingly rejected two years ago.

She warned that if enacted, the proposals could impose additional economic hardships on households and businesses already struggling with the high cost of living.

“The Finance Bill 2026/27 is a replica of the 2024 Finance Bill. It contains the same punitive measures that Kenyans rejected and threatens to impose the same economic hardships on citizens and businesses,” Karua said.

According to Karua, the government has failed to learn from the public backlash that greeted the Finance Bill 2024, which triggered nationwide protests and forced authorities to reconsider several tax proposals.

Public participation credibility

Karua also questioned the credibility of the government’s public participation process, accusing officials of sidelining ordinary citizens and creating an illusion of public approval for the bill.

Karua has argued that genuine public participation has been replaced by a carefully managed process in which only selected individuals are invited to participate in consultations. According to her, this makes it easier for authorities to influence outcomes and present predetermined views as the position of the wider public.

“Kenyans are rarely given a genuine opportunity to participate in public participation forums. Instead, a select group is invited, making it easy to manipulate the process by choosing people who will say what officials want to hear,” she added.

The former presidential candidate argued that such practices undermine the constitutional principle of public participation, which is intended to ensure citizens have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting taxation and public spending.

Karua contended that the current approach creates a false impression that Kenyans support the Finance Bill, despite concerns from various sectors about its potential economic impact.