Kenya: Smartphones May Become Luxury Items Under New Finance Bill Tax

Kenya: Smartphones May Become Luxury Items Under New Finance Bill Tax

Nairobi -- The government risks deepening the digital divide after the Finance Bill, 2026 proposed a 25 per cent excise duty on mobile phones, a move likely to push smartphones further out of reach for millions of low-income households and informal workers who rely on the devices for business, education and access to government services.

Public views sought on Finance Bill 2026 that Targets Mitumba, Phones in New Tax Plan

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 11  – Parliament has opened the Finance Bill 2026 for public participation, setting the stage for national debate over proposed tax changes touching on mobile phones, mitumba imports, digital platforms and cryptocurrency transactions. In a notice issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kenyans and stakeholders were invited to submit memoranda on the proposed law, which is sponsored by Molo MP and Finance Committee Chair…

Finance Bill 2026 Proposes 25% Levy on Phones, Raising Cost of Smartphones

Kenya’s push toward a fully digital economy is facing fresh scrutiny after the Finance Bill, 2026, proposed a 25 per cent excise duty on mobile phones, a move that could significantly raise the cost of smartphones and reshape how millions of Kenyans access digital services. The proposal introduces the tax on telephones used for cellular […]

Kenya newspapers review: Govt introduces new taxes targeting phones, gamblers in Finance Bill 2026

The African Forward Summit sees Kenya and France strengthen ties, alongside new taxes targeting mobile phones and gambling in President Ruto's Finance Bill 2026.