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High Court Not Giving Kenya's Finance Bill The Go-Ahead

Petitioners have urged a three judge bench to declare the Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional, null and void.

They told the judges that the Finance bill was passed by Parliament without the concurrence of the senate as required by the law.

In July, High Court Judge Mugure Thande directed the suit to Chief Justice Martha Koome to form a three-judge bench to hear the Finance Act 2023 case.

President William Ruto signed into law the Finance Bill that was approved by the National Assembly to raise additional funds through new taxes.

The controversial Bill was passed during a stormy session, largely boycotted by the opposition.

Following the Bill's passage, the president said it would enable his administration to deliver on their manifesto pledge to Kenyans and cut on a huge dependence on external debt.

Employers are required to remit 1.5% housing levy deducted from employees to the government in nine days to fund affordable housing scheme.

If the bill is implemented, Kenyans face a high cost of living after the increase on Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from 8 to 16%.

The Bill has set in motion a number of protests in Kenya. Ruto has said he had no problem with protests against the high cost of living, organised by opposition leader Raila Odinga, as long as they don't lead to the destruction of property.

InFocus

Nontobeko Mlambo/allafrica

(file photo).

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