Kumbe CS Mbadi is saying the controversial mitumba tax didn't just drop from the sky—it came straight from Gikomba traders themselves! Aki, so the whole uproar over the Finance Bill 2026 might be traders fighting a proposal they literally asked for? Let's unpack this sawa.

The Plot Twist Nobody Expected

So here's the tea, fam: Treasury CS John Mbadi is now claiming that the deemed profit taxation model targeting second-hand clothes traders originated as a direct request from Gikomba Market leaders. According to him, these traders literally walked into his office and said, "Boss, tafadhali, simplify our taxes ndio tuwe na peace of mind."

The proposal would slap a five per cent tax on the customs value of imported mitumba at the point of entry instead of subjecting traders to multiple tax obligations. Mbadi's logic? Replace the maze of customs taxes with ONE clean payment. Sounds reasonable, right? But then why is everyone losing their minds?

According to the Treasury boss, the whole idea was to reduce compliance burdens—no more accountant headaches, no more endless clearing processes. "One tax, paid once, done," he said. Lakini the streets aren't buying it like that.

The Backlash That Won't Die

Here's where it gets spicy: consumers and sections of traders are absolutely convinced this will make mitumba prices skyrocket. And bana, when mitumba prices go up, affordable fashion for millions of Kenyans disappears. That's not a small thing—that's survival for countless households.

Mbadi is out here defending the move like his political life depends on it. He's also throwing shade at what he calls "misinformation" circulating about the Finance Bill, especially the claims about phone prices increasing and the government accessing M-Pesa transaction data. "M-Pesa transfers aren't income," he insists. "We're not coming for your money transfers."

Ndio But Here's What Doesn't Add Up

If the mitumba traders themselves proposed this tax, why is the entire sector up in arms? Either Mbadi is leaving out crucial details about which traders were in that room, or the voices that actually matter on the ground aren't the ones who showed up at Treasury headquarters. Sijui, could it be that only a select few benefited from these talks while the majority of traders—especially small-scale operators—were locked out of the conversation?

The Finance Bill 2026 is becoming the gift that keeps on giving headaches. Every explanation from the Treasury raises ten more questions, and trust me, Kenyans are not letting this slide quietly.

The Jukwaa Take: Whether Gikomba traders asked for it or not, a tax that hurts millions of ordinary Kenyans accessing affordable clothes needs serious re-examination—politics and explanations aside.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya