Kenyans across various counties will now have the opportunity to directly weigh in on the Finance Bill 2025, as the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee shifts its public engagement forums from Nairobi to regional centers.
The committee, which has spent the past week collecting feedback from stakeholders in the capital, is set to begin county-level hearings today, starting in Busia and Migori. Trans Nzoia and Nandi counties will follow on Wednesday.
Committee vice-chair Benjamin Langat emphasized that these forums are not just a formality but a vital part of the legislative process. “Public participation is central to how we shape policy,” he said. “This Bill is still a proposal, and the contributions we receive will help refine it before it goes to the House.”
Langat also cautioned against viewing the Finance Bill in isolation, pointing out its deep connection with the national budget. “If the public wants more teachers, more nurses, better services that funding has to come from somewhere,” he said. “The Finance Bill outlines how we generate those resources.”
The call to action comes just days after multiple stakeholders submitted their views during a session in Nairobi. As the hearings move into the counties, the committee is encouraging more Kenyans to actively participate and make their voices count in shaping the nation’s financial direction.
