Don't cut the hand that feeds us: Farmers sound alarm on tax bill

Farmers in Mau Narok, Njoro sub-county, some wearing makeshift protective gear made from polythene bags, wash freshly harvested carrots, before packing them into sacks for transport to markets in Nakuru, Nairobi, and other cities. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

When Kenya’s Finance Bill 2025 proposals landed in Parliament, farmers across the country paid attention — not because they were looking for favours, but because the last few years have made it clear: if agriculture is not financed right, we all pay the price.

The Bill, which suggests new taxes and adjustments to existing ones, has rattled the farming sector. From the maize-growing plains of Trans Nzoia to mango farmers in Makueni, the message from many is simple: farming is already hard and expensive — don’t make it worse.