Japhet Ruto, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than eight years of experience in finance, business, and technology, offering profound insights on economic developments in Kenya and globally.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is inviting comments from the public on the Draft Excise Duty (Remission of Excise Duty) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

In a notice published in the government newspaper MyGov on Tuesday, June 3, the taxman said Kenyans should submit their views by Tuesday, June 17.

The government's principal revenue collector said taxpayers should submit their comments to KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga via email or through the post office.

"Please channel your submissions to the commissioner general, Kenya Revenue Authority, P.O. Box 48240-00100, Nairobi or by email to [email protected] to be received on or before Tuesday, June 17."

KRA explained that the bill aims to amend the Excise Duty Act to remove excise duty on imported fully assembled electric transformers.

"The commissioner general, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary (CS), the National Treasury and Economic Planning, invites interested members of the public, professionals and stakeholders to submit their inputs and comments for consideration in finalising the regulations," the notice states.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wag noted that the amendment aims to lower electricity costs and improve power connectivity nationwide.

"This excise duty was imposed in the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, with the intention to support local assemblers. However, the amendment has had a negative effect on the manufacture and supply of transformers by increasing the cost of importing parts," the Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) stated.

Following a directive by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, the National Assembly is scheduled to expedite the review of the amendment.

Wetang'ula tasked the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to debate the proposed law.

This came after Ichung'wah asked that the bill be given priority after MPs resumed the August House operations after recess.

The bill, if approved, is anticipated to increase investment in the power industry by reducing the cost of importing electric transformers, an important part of energy distribution.

In other news, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) requested the government to reevaluate the prohibition on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

KAM CEO Tobias Alando urged the National Assembly and Senate to reconsider the ban.

According to Alando, the rise in electric vehicles and the need for more electricity would necessitate the construction of new power substations.

This occurred concurrently with the announcement of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company's (KPLC) intention to install 45 EV charging stations.

Source: TUKO.co.ke