Finance Bill 2026: Parliament begins public participation exercise in 13 counties
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 2, 2026The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning of the National Assembly has kicked off a public participation nationwide process on the Finance Bill 2026 and three other bills that will shape the economic trajectory of the country.
In a statement on their social media handles on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the parliament of Kenya noted the start of the public hearings, saying the programme will continue through June 8, 2026, in 13 counties. The exercise is a constitutional obligation of Parliament to enable citizens to be part of the legislative process before bills are debated and enacted into law.
“Kamati ya Fedha na Mipango ya Kitaifa hivi leo itaanzisha mpango wa ushikishaji wa umma kutoa maoni yao kwa miswaada minne muhimu ukiwemo Mswaada wa Fedha, 2026 (Finance Bill, 2026) katika Kaunti kumi na tatu. Vikao hivyo vitaanza leo hadi siku ya Ijumaa. Hivi leo, kamati hio imeandaa vikao katika kaunti za Kiambu, Wajir na Vihiga kama ilivyoratibiwa kwenye bango la kielektroniki lililoambatishwa. Umekaribishwa kutoa maoni yako kwa Kamati hii kwa kujitokeza kwenye vijao au kwa kuchangania,” Parliament stated.
The Finance Bill 2026 is one of four major bills being considered, the committee said in a notice. The committee has invited the public, stakeholders, civil society organisations, professional organisations, businesses, and community organisations to voice their opinions during oral presentations and written memoranda.
Public hearings schedule
The hearings began in Vihiga, Wajir and Kiambu counties on Tuesday, June 2. The session will be at Praise Centre Church in Mbale in Vihiga County and at the ICT Hall in Wajir Town in Wajir County. The public forum in Kiambu County is being held at Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP). Every session starts at 10:00 am.
The exercise is to be continued at the county level in Nairobi, Siaya and Makueni counties on Wednesday, 3rd June. The Nairobi residents will present their perspectives at the College of Insurance, South C, and the hearings for Siaya County will be conducted at Siaya Institute of Technology. Wote Greenpark Gardens will be the venue in Makueni County.
The committee will then proceed to Nyamira County, where residents will convene at the NG-CDF Hall, West Mugirango, on Thursday, 6th June. The public participation forums will be conducted concurrently in Bomet, Taita Taveta and Turkana counties at St Bakhita Youth Training Hall, Mwatate CDF Hall and Turkana University in Lodwar, respectively, on Friday, 5th June.
The hearings are set to be continued on Saturday, June 6, in Hola in Tana River County at the County Hall. The last step in the public participation exercise will be conducted on Monday, June 8, in Kilifi and Mombasa counties. The sessions will be held at the Coast Development Authority Hall in Kilifi and at Tononoka Social Hall in Mombasa, where residents will voice their opinions.
Ways to submit memoranda
Parliament has called upon Kenyans who may not be coming to the hearings to file written memoranda to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. They may be submitted by e-mail or via written submissions dropped off in the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, located at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
Further, the public can also submit their opinions electronically using the QR code that was sent in Parliament’s official notice.
The committee highlighted the importance of public participation in Kenya’s democratic governance system as being crucial in shaping laws that meet citizens’ needs and aspirations. The views gathered will feed into the committee’s report and recommendations before the Finance Bill 2026 is presented to the National Assembly for debate.
With discussions on taxation, economic growth, public spending, and fiscal policy in the national discourse, the public participation exercise gives Kenyans an important chance to shape the final Finance Bill 2026 and other proposed bills.
In the context of public participation, the Finance Bill 2026 is a governmental document that outlines the taxation policies and principles of the Kenyan government. ‘Finance Bill 2026 Public Participation’ refers to the public’s participation in the process of preparing the Finance Bill 2026, which is a document that introduces taxation policies and principles for the Kenyan government.