Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has urged lawmakers to reject or substantially amend the Finance Bill 2026, warning that the proposal in its current form could lead to major job losses and slow Kenya’s industrial growth.
In a statement shared on his X account on June 18, 2026, the senator said the bill does not serve the interests of workers, young people or local manufacturers.
Wa Thang’wa said the legislation should have been designed to support employment, industrial expansion and youth livelihoods.
He argued that the bill instead harms domestic production, saying it punishes local assembly, encourages imports and risks leaving many young people without work.
The senator expressed particular concern over the treatment of locally assembled phones and electric motorbikes, saying the proposed tax framework disadvantages Kenyan manufacturers while favouring imported products.
He questioned the fairness of the government’s approach, asking why local assembly firms are being taxed heavily while finished imported goods are being promoted.
Wa Thang’wa warned that the bill could undo progress made in job creation and industrialisation if enacted without major changes.
He said factories could shut down, assembly lines could fall silent, investors could pull out and industrial jobs could be lost.
The senator added that the proposal conflicts with Kenya’s industrialisation goals, arguing that the country cannot build industry by relying on imports or overtaxing factories.
Wa Thang’wa called on Members of Parliament to either make sweeping amendments to the Finance Bill 2026 or reject it outright.
He said his position is driven by the need to protect workers, boda boda riders, manufacturers and young entrepreneurs across Kenya.