NEWS: President Ruto Signs Finance Bill 2026 Into Law as Ksh4.8 Trillion Budget Gets Green Light
President William Ruto has signed the Finance Bill 2026 into law, clearing the way for the implementation of the government's Ksh4.8 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
The Bill was assented to on Tuesday, June 23, during a ceremony at State House Nairobi attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, lawmakers, cabinet secretaries and senior government officials.
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The signing marks the final stage in the approval of the national budget and grants the National Treasury legal authority to collect taxes and implement spending plans beginning July 1, 2026.
The Finance Bill contains a raft of tax and revenue measures aimed at financing government operations, including public sector salaries, development projects, debt repayments and essential public services.
Its assent comes days after a divisive vote in the National Assembly, where the Bill passed amid intense political contestation. A total of 122 MPs voted in favour of the legislation, while 40 opposed it and 187 abstained during the Third Reading, highlighting the sharp divisions it generated both inside and outside Parliament.
Defending the legislation, Ruto maintained that the Bill is critical to funding government commitments and ensuring smooth implementation of programmes outlined in the budget.
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“It is the reason why in the budget and the Finance Bill that I’m going to sign on Tuesday, we have enhanced the resources to make sure that we cover every aspect of the commitments we have made to the people of Kenya,” the President said ahead of the signing.
At the ceremony, Ruto said the law would help prevent funding shortfalls and enable the government to roll out its economic agenda without interruptions.
The President also commended MPs who backed the Bill, saying they chose the country's interests over political pressure.
The new law now sets the stage for the government's spending plans in the upcoming financial year, even as debate over the tax measures and their impact on Kenyans continues.
