Listening Beyond the Headlines
When conversations about the Finance Bill 2026 began spreading across Kenya, many young people found themselves asking an important question:
"How will this affect my future?"
From university students and job seekers to entrepreneurs and community leaders, young people wanted to understand how the proposed measures could influence employment opportunities, business growth, digital innovation, the cost of living, and emerging green economy opportunities.
To support informed civic engagement, Saidika Organization convened public participation forums in Lang'ata and Kibera, bringing together youth, experts, professionals, and community members to unpack the Finance Bill 2026 and discuss its potential implications.
The objective was simple: create a safe and inclusive platform where young people could access information, ask questions, share perspectives, and contribute to national conversations that affect their lives.
What emerged from these discussions was both encouraging and revealing.
Young people are paying attention.
Young people care.
And young people want a seat at the table.
Understanding Before Judging
One of the strongest messages raised during both forums was the need for accessible and simplified information.
Many participants admitted that although the Finance Bill had become a major topic of public discussion, few citizens had read the actual proposals or fully understood their implications.
Participants noted that policy documents are often technical and difficult for ordinary citizens to interpret.
As a result, misinformation spreads quickly, creating confusion and unnecessary tension.
Youth participants emphasized the importance of civic education and public dialogue forums that help citizens understand policies before forming opinions.
The consensus was clear:
Meaningful participation begins with understanding.
Jobs Remain the Number One Concern
Across both Lang'ata and Kibera, employment emerged as the most pressing issue among young people.
Participants expressed concerns about unemployment, underemployment, and the increasing challenges faced by young entrepreneurs trying to establish sustainable businesses.
Many questioned whether the proposed fiscal measures would stimulate job creation, attract investment, and support youth-led enterprises.
For small business owners, discussions centered around affordability, taxation, business compliance, and access to opportunities.
Participants emphasized that policies should create an enabling environment where young people can start, grow, and sustain businesses without unnecessary barriers.
Many argued that supporting entrepreneurship remains one of the most effective ways of addressing youth unemployment in Kenya.
The Cost of Living Cannot Be Ignored
Another recurring theme was the rising cost of living.
Participants shared concerns about increasing household expenses, transport costs, food prices, rent, education expenses, and healthcare costs.
While acknowledging the government's responsibility to raise revenue for development and public services, many young people questioned how policy decisions could better balance revenue collection with the realities facing ordinary citizens.
Several participants noted that economic policies should not only focus on revenue generation but also consider their impact on vulnerable households and low-income earners.
The discussions highlighted the need for inclusive economic policies that promote growth while protecting livelihoods.
The Digital Economy: A Sector Young People Want Protected
One of the most vibrant discussions focused on Kenya's growing digital economy.
Across both forums, participants highlighted how thousands of young people now earn income through freelancing, content creation, e-commerce, digital marketing, software development, online work, and technology-driven innovation.
Many participants expressed concern that increased compliance requirements or additional costs affecting digital transactions could potentially slow growth within a sector that has become an important source of employment for young people.
Recent analyses of the Finance Bill 2026 have highlighted proposed changes affecting taxation, compliance frameworks, and digital business operations, prompting discussions among business leaders and technology stakeholders about their potential impact on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Participants emphasized that Kenya's digital economy represents one of the country's greatest opportunities for youth employment and economic inclusion.
They called for policies that encourage innovation, digital literacy, affordable internet access, and investment in technology-driven enterprises.
Green Opportunities Must Move Beyond Policy Statements
The forums also revealed growing interest among young people in climate action and green jobs.
Participants identified renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, recycling, green manufacturing, climate-smart technologies, and environmental conservation as sectors with enormous potential.
Many young people welcomed Kenya's continued commitment to green growth and sustainable development.
However, they also emphasized that young people need practical pathways into these sectors through training, financing, mentorship, internships, and market access.
Participants challenged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and ensure that green opportunities translate into real jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
As one participant noted:
Young people don't just want to hear about green jobs. We want access to them.
Public Participation Must Be More Than a Requirement
Perhaps the most powerful lesson from the Lang'ata and Kibera forums was the importance of meaningful participation.
Young people repeatedly expressed appreciation for platforms that allow them to engage directly with experts, ask difficult questions, and contribute ideas.
Participants emphasized that public participation should not be viewed as a one-time constitutional requirement.
Instead, it should be an ongoing process that enables citizens to contribute to policymaking throughout the year.
The discussions demonstrated that when given the opportunity, young people engage thoughtfully, critically, and constructively.
Far from being passive observers, they are active stakeholders in Kenya's future.
From Participation to Partnership
The conversations held in Lang'ata and Kibera reinforced a simple but powerful truth:
Young people are not merely beneficiaries of policy decisions.
They are entrepreneurs.
They are innovators.
They are workers.
They are taxpayers.
They are community leaders.
And they are partners in national development.
As Kenya continues to shape its economic future, youth perspectives must remain part of the conversation.
Policies affecting employment, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, climate action, and economic growth cannot succeed without meaningful engagement from the very people they are intended to benefit.
Looking Ahead
At Saidika Organization, we believe that informed participation strengthens democracy, accountability, and inclusive development.
Our role is not to tell young people what to think.
Our role is to create opportunities for learning, dialogue, engagement, and collective action.
The public participation forums in Lang'ata and Kibera demonstrated the value of bringing citizens together to discuss issues that matter.
The message from young people was clear:
We want information. We want participation. And we want policies that create opportunities for all."
By amplifying youth voices and strengthening civic engagement, we move closer to a future where public policy reflects the aspirations, challenges, and potential of the people it serves.
References
-Finance Bill 2026 analyses by legal and tax experts.
-Kenya Budget Policy Statement 2026.
-Public participation reflections collected during Saidika Organization's Finance Bill 2026 forums in Lang'ata and Kibera.
Youth perspectives shared by participants during community dialogue sessions.
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