Isaac Mandela

I'm here to enjoy the inconsistencies

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@KWALOFFICIAL How can this alcohol contain both 11.5% and 13% alcohol content? This confusion isn't good for consumers. Bought at @naivas_kenya @KEBS_ke

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@gichohi_waweru Is a pass rate of 8% an indictment on the students or the instructors/institution?

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

While retirement planning should be voluntary, I am still hopeful that Housing Levy & Shif deductions will be declared unconstitutional

[The Standard Digital @StandardKenya]

Millions of Kenyan workers and employers will continue paying the lower Sh200 monthly contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) after the Court of Appeal declined to suspend a judgment declaring the NSSF Act, 2013, unconstitutional.

The decision effectively blocks enforcement of the higher NSSF deductions introduced under the law, sparing workers and employers from significantly increased mandatory contributions.

https://t.co/E8kSjZaufr

[Julians Amboko @AmbokoJH]

There's a full page in the Sunday Nation where the National Assembly seeks to explain the thinking behind a number of provisions in Finance Bill 2026.

What stands out for me:

1. The Assembly says that the proposed deletion of Sec42(14,e) regarding agency notices is designed to strengthen enforcement & enhance recoveries from taxpayers who "deliberately" want to avoid paying taxes using appeals

What the Assembly doesn't say is that even presently appeals at the High Court, by mutual consent between parties involved, attract security from the taxpayer depending on the quantum of the assessment issued by the Revenue Authority.

2. The Assembly argues that Finance Bill 2026 doesn't introduce any new tax on mobile phones. What it does is to consolidate existing taxes under a 25.0% excise duty rate.

What the Assembly doesn't say is that the Bill knocks off three crucial incentives that have been in place for locally assembled phones.

a) The first is input recovery since they are being reclassified from Zero Rated to Exempt
b) The second is excise exemption
c) The third is that while the Bill exempts imported finished phones from IDF & RDL, there's no equivalent relief for the imported inputs for locally assembled devices

3. Regarding the 20.0% Withholding Tax on betting & gaming winnings, the National Assembly says that the idea is to protect society against the practise of betting

What the Assembly doesn't say is that it was Finance Act 2025, just a year ago, that overhauled the tax regime on betting &, among other things, scrapped 20.0% Withholding Tax on gross winnings. We are all for protecting society, it is the flip flop around tax we take issue with.

[Julians Amboko @AmbokoJH]

I know we are all heavy on Finance Bill 2026 & submissions but the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introduced in the National Assembly this afternoon is extremely consequential.

What are we seeing here?

· There's a proposal to widen the window for CBK's accumulation of precious metals.

1. Currently, the law provides for "buying, selling, importation, export, hold or otherwise dealing in gold or foreign exchange under such terms and conditions as it shall determine".

2. The new Bill proposes to widen this by providing for "buying, selling, importation, export, transfer, hold, refine, or otherwise deal in gold, gold coins & bullion, silver, platinum, any other precious metals or foreign exchange under such terms & conditions as it shall determine.

· There's a proposal to extend the period during which the CBK may extend emergency liquidity assistance to banks or microfinance institutions from the current 6 months to 12 months

· There's a proposal to create a window for CBK to grant loans or advances for fixed periods, not exceeding 3 years, to the Kenya Deposit Insurance
Corporation (KDIC) on the security of Treasury Bills
or other Government securities specified by
the Bank

· Important to observe the widening of the mandate around liquidity, solvency and proper functioning of a stable market-based financial system. The new bill unbundles this into two:

1. Liquidity, solvency, proper functioning &
integrity of a market-based financial system
2. Soundness, safety, and effective regulation of
the banking system

Musings:

· This Bill is a statement around banking sector stability in the country. It is important to read it against the backdrop of the ongoing recapitalisation that has entered its year 2 hurdle in 2026 (i.e. Kes 5.0 billion from Kes 3.0 billion as at close of 2025)

· The Microfinance sector has been haemorrhaging quite a bit with about a decade now of heavy losses registered. Extending that window for emergency liquidity from 6 to 12 months speaks to this reality

· On precious metals & the widened scope, I read here a signal around the growing quest to de-risk the apex bank's portfolio away from US$ & Gold concentration. Curious to see how much of the "foreign currency" bit will be CN¥ denominated given the swap in the SGR facility from US$ to CN¥

[Ramah Nyang @Ramah_Nyang]

If GoK was serious about this (and their actions tell us they are not):

(1) the state would not be fighting as aggressively as it is to keep SGR contracts secret, hiding behind ‘national security’ claims
(2) @KeTreasury would have made contracts for loans from institutions like TDB public (annual debt service to that body can be in the $ 1 billion p.a. range)
(3) we would have far more regular updates on inflows & outflows from funds that should be ring-fenced (but as PDF, RDL prove to us, they are not)
(4) we would see all tax returns & asset ownership data for anyone in public office - both politicians & civil servants
(5) Energy Ministry would have given taxpayers detailed clarity on what the triggers are for subsidizing fuel ages ago. This was required in our last @IMFNews program, but GoK chose not to comply.

This idea that ‘transparency’ is only for ‘other people’ (taxpayers like you and I, that is) is the unspoken part of how GoK makes policy. One rule for thee, and another for me.

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

Notice how the vehicle is burning next to the carpentry shop, untouched?

[steve Biko osur @wuodosur]

Which Kisii lawyer or judge replaced Maraga? Which Kalenjin replaced Tunoi? Which Luhya replaced Baraza? which Asian replaced Rawal? Which Kamba replaced Mutunga? What warped logic is this Ndegwa?!

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@allenochi You've just reminded me return my rungu in the car.

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@NPSOfficial_KE @PoliceKE A boda boda and his pillion passenger have been hit by a speedig car at the City mortuary roundabout about 10 mins ago. The passenger is unresponsive. Send help. @StJohnKenya

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

https://t.co/E4j1m04Zsi

[Steve Muikia @stevemuikia]

Hizi Law Firm wil just pretend to receive ur Request n help u but they won't. They r in banks pocket on retainer basis Banks hv also Corrupted Media Houses not 2 air Anything against them
Banks hav Corrupted al Top Law Firms so tht they don't take any Serious Cases against them

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@ZerakiApp I have been unable to log in sunce December. Please assist

[Ramah Nyang @Ramah_Nyang]

The decreed reduction in Value Added Tax on diesel, kerosene and petrol from 13% (as adjusted on April 14), to 8% (a 50% drop), raises some interesting questions.

[Kwame Owino @IEAKwame]

Lesson from Econ 101: Government should stay out of procurement of private goods and avoid price setting policies. This is just trouble

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

I am looking forward to the day I don't have to key in the tokens in the meter

[WARÚHIÚ @kamauwaruhiu]

Ama kplc walete unlimited tokens za 1 hour kama safaricom. Unanunua za kupika githeri za 1 hour .

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

Someone beat you on canvassing

[TeeBag🇰🇪 @tii_bag]

There was an open position at my workplace and I informed my friend who was job hunting. He is well qualified for that position, he brought in his CV in less than 24 hours and since the HR was my guy I told her to ensure my guy's cv got to the boss on top and I asked the HR for the sample of questions to be asked since she was typing them. He was invited with 9 other people and when he went in he nailed every question effortlessly. Everyone was impressed and we were pretty sure he got the job. Today,lo and behold,we had a new staff: a young lady,elegantly dressed and she wasn't even part of the candidates interviewed

[Caleb Sama @nonsensei_kun]

It is now time to tell my story of how a simple insurance claim turned into a 99 day nightmare.

On December 23 last year, I was involved in an accident near Muthaiga.

A thread.

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

I was paid by APA 3 months in to the first cover in 2023.

[Cpt. Kibet @CaptKigen]

Has anyone ever benefited from Comprehensive Insurance?

Tell me how it worked for you

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

Don't you think passengers should be made aware of this? And the estimated time they'll receive their luggage?

[khalif kairo @KhalifKairo]

They dont misplace bags, they intetionally leave them behind when Passenger weight , Fuel needed mathematics don’t make sense. Flying aircraft is a tricky balance between getting your weight right versus available perfomance ( engine power, runway length , density alt etc)

[Isaac Mandela @IMkenya]

@Wuodnyakach_ 🤣

[U.S. Marines @USMC]

Chuck Norris didn't join the Marine Corps...the Marine Corps applied to him.

Heaven’s streets have always been guarded by Marines. Today, Chuck Norris reported for duty.

We mourn the passing of Chuck Norris, a @usairforce veteran, who also became an honorary Marine in 2007 when awarded the title by then Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway.

Chuck Norris is one of just over 100 individuals to be awarded the title of Honorary Marine in the entire 250-year history of the Corps.

Some missions may require a battalion, but this one just requires an Honorary Marine.

#USMCHistory #USMC #SemperFidelis