Bomet County residents have strongly opposed the proposed taxation of betting winnings, urging Parliament to remove the clause from the Finance Bill 2026. They argued that a significant number of young people in the county depend on betting as a source of income and livelihood.

The submissions were made on June 4, 2026, during public participation hearings before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. Residents called for the tax clause to be withdrawn, saying it would negatively affect youth who rely on betting returns.

A youth representative told the committee that betting has become a key financial activity for many young people. “Tax on betting winnings should be reduced significantly or totally abolished as youths now largely invest in it and depend on the returns,” he stated.

He further proposed that if the tax is retained, it should follow a progressive structure targeting higher winnings, while protecting small-scale bettors.

Lawmakers respond to concerns on betting taxation

The delegation of Members of Parliament was led by the Vice Chairperson of the committee, Benjamin Langat, who noted that betting outcomes largely benefit a small number of winners compared to the majority of participants.

“Out of maybe a hundred thousand bets placed, very few people, maybe even only one, can win millions. Meaning more people lose their money at the expense of a few winners,” he said.

Residents also raised concerns on other proposed measures in the Finance Bill 2026. Otieno Orinda proposed higher taxation on exported petroleum products as an alternative revenue source. He also sought clarification on whether the proposed duty on digital financial services would apply to mobile money platforms such as M-Pesa and banking services, calling for a downward review due to the impact on ordinary users.

Orinda noted that many Kenyans rely heavily on digital financial services for daily transactions and warned that increased charges could increase financial pressure on households.

Public participation process and Finance Bill submissions

Butula MP Joseph Oyula encouraged broader citizen engagement in legislative processes, noting the importance of public participation in shaping policy decisions.

“This format of public participation is new, and Kenyans are urged to get more involved in legislative processes,” he said. “Your views are very important in this process, and we undertake to put them into consideration as we write our final Report.”

Hon. Benjamin Langat assured participants that all views raised during the hearings would be captured and included in the committee’s final report on the Finance Bill 2026.

“Our job is to ensure that everyone’s views are heard and respected. As your representatives in the Assembly, we shall endeavour to report your proposals on this,” he said. “I can confirm to you that whatever you say shall form part of our final process and shall be captured in the report.”

The discussions form part of nationwide public participation on the Finance Bill 2026, where citizens continue to raise concerns over taxation proposals affecting livelihoods, digital services, and household incomes.