Wajir residents have urged Parliament to ensure that proposed tax and financial legislation for the 2026/27 financial year does not increase the cost of living.

The Committee on Finance and National Planning, chaired by Kuria Kimani, met with residents on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, as part of nationwide consultations on four key legislative proposals: the Finance Bill 2026, the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, the Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill, and the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill.

The exercise was conducted in line with Article 118 of the Constitution, which requires Parliament to involve citizens in the legislative process.

“During the engagement, members of the public urged the Committee to ensure that the proposed legislation does not increase the cost of living for Kenyans. They further called on the Committee to ensure prudent utilisation of the public funds and equitable distribution of development projects across the country,” a statement by the Parliament of Kenya read.

The public participation

The committee conducted a civic education session to enhance public understanding of the four proposed legislations, before receiving submissions from the residents.

Speaking during the engagement exercise, MP Kimani assured residents that his committee would take into account the views collected from Wajir and other parts of the country in their report.

“We are all aware that Wajir has been left behind on matters of development, including roads and education. This Committee will ensure that your views count in our report and that no part of the country is left behind,” Kimani said.

Financial pressure

Residents expressed concern that some of the proposed measures could further burden households already grappling with the high cost of living. They called on lawmakers to scrutinise the Bills carefully and ensure that any tax changes do not increase financial pressure on ordinary Kenyans.

The residents also urged the government to promote the prudent use of public resources and to guarantee the equitable distribution of development projects across the country.

Isaac Gitonga, representing the non-local community in Wajir Town, called for increased public awareness of the proposed legislation, saying many citizens were yet to fully understand its benefits.

“We are not opposed to the proposed Bills. They contain significant benefits, but for citizens to fully participate and share their views, they must be adequately informed on the benefits,” he said.