Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has issued a strong call for Kenyans to reject the Finance Bill 2026/27 in its current form, warning that it contains hidden provisions that will impose burdensome leases, particularly affecting residents of the Mt Kenya region.

Speaking on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at ACK St Stephen’s Cathedral in Kenol, Murang’a County, Musyoka urged citizens to scrutinise the bill closely during public participation, arguing it would quietly introduce financial mechanisms detrimental to ordinary households and small-scale landowners.

“Reject Finance Bill 2026/27 as it is, as it is going to quietly introduce leases which will be really hard for people from the Mt Kenya region,” he said.

His remarks come amid growing opposition to the proposed legislation, which critics say will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis.

Musyoka told the congregation that the bill, currently undergoing public participation in Parliament, fails to address the economic hardships faced by Kenyans and instead piles more pressure on an already strained population.

Opposition rallies against proposed taxation measures

The call echoes his address the previous day in Thika, where he announced that opposition supporters will return to the streets on June 25, 2026.

The date holds symbolic significance, as it marks the third anniversary of the deadly 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. Musyoka described the planned demonstrations as both a remembrance for “Gen Z victims” killed during those protests and a firm stand against new government policies, including the current Finance Bill.

“Wakati wa mgomo wa matatu, watu wanne walipigwa risasi wakauwawa,” he said in Thika, accusing the government of having an insatiable appetite for the blood of Kenyans.

He claimed over 100 youths lost their lives in past demonstrations triggered by unemployment, high taxation, corruption, and poor governance.

“Mwezi unaokuja tutakuwa tunakumbuka vijana wetu zaidi ya mia moja ambao waliuawa na serikali hii,” Musyoka added, insisting families deserve justice.

The opposition leader vowed sustained, peaceful mobilisation against policies perceived to hurt citizens. “Tutakuwa tunapinga vikali… na tutakuwa tunafanya hayo kwa njia ya amani,” he emphasised. He warned that passing the bill would further burden Kenyans and influence the 2027 electoral landscape negatively.

Jubilee Party joins rejection calls

Joining the chorus, the Jubilee Party has also urged outright rejection of the Finance Bill. Speaking at a press briefing on May 20 at Jubilee headquarters, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i described the proposals as enslaving, saying they would deduct huge portions of earnings from civil servants and worsen the cost of living.

“Kenyan workers are now in slavery,” Matiang’i stated, criticising the government for withdrawing from the IMF programme to evade scrutiny and for shifting blame instead of fixing governance failures.

The mounting opposition reflects deep public frustration over taxation, fuel prices, and economic management.