As the public comment period for the Finance Bill 2026 neared its end on Monday evening, Kenyan youth turned to social media to analyze proposed taxes.
Thousands of young people used TikTok, X, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram to read the bill, translate complex legal language and submit comments via the parliamentary website.
Allans Ademba, founder of the Tuko Kadi initiative, posted a public participation framework on Monday urging Kenyans to engage. Contested proposals include a 25 percent tax on mobile phones, 5 percent on digital content creators' income and 20 percent on gambling winnings.
Finance Minister John Mbadi defended the measures, saying the new tax would simplify an existing complex system that reaches 55.5 percent. Ellen Kalia, a 25-year-old activist from the Coast, said the movement shows civic education without a single leader.
