The National Assembly has refuted claims circulating on
social media that the proposed Finance Bill, 2026 includes provisions to tax or
charge annual land rent on freehold land.
In an official public communication notice released amid heightened public interest in upcoming fiscal measures, Parliament labeled the viral reports as "purely false, incorrect, and untrue," assuring Kenyans that land ownership structures remain unaffected by the proposed bill.
According to the clarification issued by the Public Communications department of the National Assembly, the Finance Bill, 2026 is strictly a tax administration and revenue-mobilisation document that does not delve into land tenure or property land rent.
"The 2026 Finance Bill contains a total of 57 clauses, and none is on the subject of land," Parliament stated.
The statement categorically denied allegations that the government is seeking to systematically convert freehold land into leasehold property to force citizens to pay recurring annual fees.
"This is purely false, incorrect and untrue. The Bill has NO provisions on land. The Bill has no provisions on land rent," the notice further emphasized.
The legislative body also took the opportunity to address separate viral claims alleging that a new piece of legislation matching these land-rent descriptions had already bypassed public scrutiny and been signed by the Head of State.
Parliament clarified that no such legislative changes have taken place or are even under consideration in the current House.
"There is no such Bill in Parliament, and no Act has been passed by Parliament or signed into law by the President in the current Parliament relating to land rent on freehold land," the statement read.
The National Assembly has warned citizens to beware of coordinated misinformation efforts designed to incite panic or manipulate public perception during the ongoing budget and public participation cycle.
"The National Assembly urges the public to disregard the
false information circulating online which is intended to mislead
Kenyans."
To promote transparency, authorities have directed the public to access actual, verified copies of the Finance Bill, 2026, alongside other pending legislative pieces, directly via the official parliamentary portal at https://www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/housebusiness/bills.
The proposed Finance Bill 2026 is facing intense scrutiny from Kenyans, with critics arguing that the new tax measures could further worsen the high cost of living at a time when households and businesses are already under economic pressure.
Concerns have been raised over proposals targeting digital payments, smartphones, gambling winnings, and other sectors, with opponents warning that the measures could increase the cost of essential services and undermine financial inclusion.
