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Digital payments sector pushes back on new levies at Africa Day crypto forum

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Saruni Maina, Regional Operations Lead for Binance Africa. 

Kenya's Finance Bill 2026 has put the digital payments sector on edge, with the cryptocurrency industry calling on the government to grant tax exemptions on proposed new levies it says could stunt a sector still finding its feet.

The National Treasury is seeking to impose a 16pc VAT on services by payment service providers, including M-Pesa and Airtel Money, a 25pc excise duty on mobile phones and a withholding tax on card payments.

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