Macharia Kamau

1 day ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Brian Ngugi |Macharia Kamau

President William Ruto during the signing of seven parliamentary Bills that will accelerate the achievement of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. [PHOTO HIRAM OMONDI/ PCS, 11/12/2024] President William Ruto yesterday signed the Finance Bill 2025 into law, introducing changes in tax administration aimed at increasing his embattled government’s revenue as the country grapples with mounting public debt and economic pressures.

2 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Graham Kajilwa |Macharia Kamau

2025 BUDGET DAY-  Treasury CS John Mbadi arrives to read the budget at Parliament Buildinggs, Nairobi. June 12th,2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] The government will over the next one-year attempt to breathe life into the struggling economy. While National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi spoke of yet another attempt at austerity measures that could see civil servants lose allowances, President William Ruto's administration will sink the country deeper into debt, borrowing nearly Sh1 trillion.

3 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Macharia Kamau

Alego Usonga MP and Chairperson of the National Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee Sam Atandi when the committee held a meeting on appropriation of funds and national budget planning with the Principal Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning Chris Kiptoo at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi Airport on May 29, 2025.

3 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Macharia Kamau

Budget briefcase during the Budget Highlights for FY 23/24 at the Parliament  on June 15th,2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) has approved the plans by the government to spend Sh4.24 trillion, but also poked holes in the plan. Get Trusted News for Only Ksh99 a WeekSubscribe Today & Save!Get StartedUnlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly Newsletters

3 weeks ago | standardmedia.co.ke | Macharia Kamau |Esther Dianah

Among the many placards on display in the streets of Nairobi last June when Kenyans protested against the Finance Bill, 2024 were a few unpalatable ones targeted at the international Monetary Fund (IMF). It was an indication of the citizens’ anger towards the measures proposed by the IMF in 2021 and were now being cascaded down to Kenyans over time, and particularly the global lender’s hand in crafting of last year’s Finance Bill that tried to raise the cost of many items, including essentials.