Nairobi, Nov. 15 -- The 30 percent excise duty on imported wood panels has raised the cost of locally manufactured furniture, including fitted kitchens, wardrobes and office cabinets, while making imported finished products cheaper.

Stakeholders in the furniture and construction industries have asked a National Assembly committee to delete the provision in the Finance Act 2026 that introduced the duty on imported wood-based panels, including medium-density fibreboard (MDF), saying it has made locally manufactured furniture more expensive.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Business Daily....