September deadline: Gov't conducts tax exemption vetting for eligible Kenyans

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A multi-agency team began verifying PWD tax exemption applications at Kisii County Referral Hospital on August 11, 2026

- The National Council for Persons with Disabilities CEO Michael Munene confirmed the exercise covers formal, informal, and self-employed applicants

- The vetting schedule spans 11 counties until September 4, with the final days reserved strictly for appeal cases

Kenya's National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has launched a nationwide income tax exemption vetting exercise targeting persons with disabilities in formal employment, informal work, and income-generating activities, with sessions running across the country through September 4, 2026.

NCPWD chief executive officer Michael Munene confirmed the exercise during its opening session at Kisii County Referral Hospital noting it is being conducted under the Act for Persons with Disabilities.

"This is an exercise to verify persons with disabilities who have applied for tax exemption, that is, those in formal or informal employment as well as those who are involved in income-generating activities which allow for relief on matters tax," Munene said.

Vetting schedule and venues

The exercise is spread across 11 counties, with sessions already completed or ongoing in Kisii, Kisumu, Bungoma, West Pokot, and Eldoret.

Upcoming stops include Nakuru County Referral Hospital from August 21 to 22, Machakos Level 5 Hospital from August 17 to 18, Nyeri's Mt Kenya Sub-County Hospital from August 19 to 20, and Isiolo Level 5 Hospital from August 21 to 22.

Earlier, Mombasa's Tudor Sub-County Hospital hosted sessions from August 13 to 15, while Garissa County Referral Hospital ran its exercise from August 10 to 11.

In Nairobi, vetting will take place at NCPWD headquarters in Westlands from August 26 to September 1, with September 2 to 4 set aside exclusively for appeal cases.

What are the requirements for applicants?

The NCPWD has outlined strict conditions for anyone wishing to be vetted.

Applications must have been submitted through the eCitizen platform before the system closed on August 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM, and applicants are required to present a receipt from that application as proof of eligibility.

All original documents uploaded during the application process must be carried to the venue. For persons with acquired disabilities, a specialist report from a government hospital is mandatory. Reporting times are strictly between 8:00am and 12:00pm

The council cautioned the public that the entire vetting process is free of charge. The only legitimate payment associated with the exercise is the application fee processed through eCitizen, and members of the public have been warned against making any additional payments to individuals claiming to facilitate the process.

When will salaried Kenyans get tax relief?

In other news, the PAYE tax relief legislation is set for September 2026, according to Treasury CS John Mbadi.

More than 3.4 million salaried workers would benefit from the Treasury's main proposal, which would make the first KSh 30,000 of monthly earnings tax-free.

Despite prior government assurances, the PAYE relief was not included in the Finance Bill 2026, and a committee in Parliament identified a KSh 35 billion income shortfall.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.