Africa-Press – Kenya. Azimio leader Raila Odinga has said that Kenyans have defied political division and united against the tax burden and high cost of living that has rocked the country.
He stated that this was occasioned by the passing of the now suspended Finance Act 2023.
“After the passage of the Finance Act, Kenyans have defied party, political and regional divides and united to resist punitive taxation and demand the lowering of the cost of basic commodities,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
“That the tax burden is unbearable, is no longer a party issue; it is a Kenyan issue.”
Earlier, Raila said his Tumechoka Citizen’s Initiative has collected up to 8.5 million signatures.
The signature collection exercise is aimed at showing dissatisfaction with the Kenya Kwanza administration caused by the aforementioned issues.
A survey released by Infotrak on Monday showed that 73 per cent of Kenyans do not support the Finance Act.
It further said 61 per cent support civil disobedience to show their dissatisfaction with the Act with 49 per cent challenging in court.
The Finance Act was signed on June 26, 2023 by President William Ruto after the National Assembly approved tax measures.
The Act aimed at raising the Sh3. 6 trillion budget.
The proposals had received harsh criticism from leaders and Kenyans alike, including Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah who moved to court challenging the law.
High Court Judge Mugure Thande ordered the State not to implement the law until further directions were given.
On July 10, Justice Thande declined to lift orders staying the implementation after the government pleaded for the same saying there is bound to be a crisis at the National Treasury.
She said the state had not demonstrated to her satisfaction grounds to warrant the setting aside of the orders of June 30.
“The petitioners had raised several grounds on which they claimed that the Finance Act is unconstitutional and my view is that were the court to set aside conservatory orders, the petition will be rendered a mere academic exercise,” Thande ruled.
On July 20, the Court of Appeal declined to lift High Court’s order and directed the parties appear for a ruling on Friday, July 28.
The Court is set to determine whether the conservatory orders suspending the implementation of the Finance Act will be lifted.
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