Kumbe the whole mitumba tax drama started with Gikomba traders themselves? Treasury CS John Mbadi just dropped a bomb claiming that soko leaders actually asked for this simplified tax system — but aki, the streets are not buying it!

The Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming

Bana, imagine this scenario: the government proposes a tax that's got the entire country heated, traders are furious, consumers are panicking, and then — BOOM — Mbadi comes out saying "Sisi we just listened to what Gikomba asked for." Sawa sawa, sure Jan. According to the Treasury CS, leaders from Gikomba Market walked into his office and were like "Tafadhali, give us one simple tax instead of all these complicated ones." And apparently, his team agreed, and boom, it made it into the Finance Bill 2026. The proposal? A neat 5% deemed profit tax on mitumba imports at the entry point. Clean, simple, straightforward — or so they claim.

Mbadi's argument is actually not without merit, lakini the timing is everything, right? He's saying the system will eliminate the multiple customs-related taxes that traders currently deal with, reducing the compliance burden and the need to hire accountants for clearing procedures. One payment at entry, traders are done with customs drama — ndio, that's the pitch. But here's where things get spicy: when mitumba traders heard about this proposal, they came out swinging with criticism. So either Gikomba leaders changed their minds real quick, or Mbadi's version of events is missing some crucial details.

But Wait, There's More Confusion

While defending the mitumba tax, Mbadi also went off defending other controversial proposals in the Finance Bill. He insists that phone prices won't spike because they've consolidated levies into one single excise duty. And get this — he's telling Kenyans that M-Pesa transfers won't be taxed because they're "transfers, not income." Sio hivyo? The man is basically saying trust the official bill, not the misinformation spreading on timelines. Fair point, but the fact that we even needed these clarifications shows the bill had some serious communication problems from the jump.

The real issue here is credibility, si uone. If Gikomba traders actually requested this, why didn't the government lead with that message? Why are traders now opposing something they supposedly asked for? Either there's a serious disconnect between what different trader groups want, or the Treasury's story has more holes than a matatu seat.

🗣️ What Kenya Is Saying

"So Gikomba traders asked for this tax, but now they're protesting it? Something doesn't add up," tweeted one frustrated Kenyan.

"Mbadi is basically playing the 'they asked for it' card after the whole country rejected it. Classic government move," another commented.

The Jukwaa Take: Whether Gikomba requested it or not, the Finance Bill rollout has been a communication disaster, and Mbadi's late-stage explanations feel like damage control rather than transparency.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya