National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the Finance Bill 2025 terming it economically friendly to Kenyans.

Speaking during an event in Kibra on Monday June 9, 2025, Mbadi assured Kenyans that the Bill does not include VAT on bread and unga, blaming opposition leaders for misleading Kenyans.

“In the Finance Bill that is before the National Assembly, there is nowhere we are putting VAT on bread, milk and unga, the basic commodities are not even mentioned.

“That bill that is being talked about on social media is not my bill, it is a bill that is manufactured by the opposition and you seem to have bought it,” said Mbadi.

Additionally, the CS also clarified that the Bill has got nothing to do with neonatal tax where new babies are required to be taxed, urging Kenyans to read the Bill before consuming propaganda.

“I heard that we are going to tax new born babies, that is a propaganda Bill. Kenyans need to read the Bill for themselves and not entertain propaganda manufactured elsewhere,” he added.

Mbadi further emphasized the issue of economic policy, saying that the government is set to create more jobs for the youths to curb unemployment.

“Government will create job opportunities for youths to help them come out of the jobless bracket, that makes them think education is a scam,” he said.

The proposed national budget for the 2025/2026 Financial Year stands at Ksh4.239 trillion and is anchored on President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the broader goals of Vision 2030.

The June 12, 2025 budget statement is expected to offer clarity on how the government plans to finance the ambitious spending plan amid constrained fiscal space.