State seeks legal backing to spy on your M-Pesa, bank accounts

"The Bill seeks to amend section 51 of the Data Protection Act (Cap. 411C) to provide for the exemption of the processing of personal data that relates to the assessment, enforcement or collection of any tax or duty from the provisions of the Data Protection Act," says the Finance Bill.

The Kenya Kwanza administration reckons the taxman's ability to legally collect transactional data on popular mobile money services like M-Pesa from all traders, individuals, and companies in the country will help tighten the noose on tax cheats.