Omtatah Threatens Finance Act Targeting, Post Court Verdict
After the Court of Appeal lifted the suspension of the Finance Act 2023’s implementation, activist Okiya Omtatah pledged to continue fighting against it.
Okiya told GossipA2Z that his emphasis is now on ensuring that the contentious sections of the Finance Act 2023 are struck down during the case’s full hearing and determination.
Senator Busia maintains that his application challenges the constitutionality of the law and will advocate for the repeal of the contested sections.
Okiya stated, “We will not give up until the Finance Act of 2023 is repealed or declared null and void by the court, as it contains provisions that contradict the Constitution.”
In particular, the activist argued that the Housing Levy provisions of the Finance Act of 2023 grossly contravene the right to equality and property right.
“No one should be compelled to contribute money in a way that suggests citizens are soliciting for the government. We will oppose it in the Court of Appeals,” Okiya stated.
Okiya, who refrained from naming the Court of Appeal judges, explained that the High Court’s decision to halt the implementation of the Finance Act of 2023 was correct.
“The State was not going to be harmed even if the Act remained suspended, but the Court of Appeal Justices, in their wisdom, decided otherwise,” the senator from Busia explained.
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According to Omtatah, the government’s claims that the suspension hurt revenue collection, which is required to fund development initiatives, are unfounded because agencies continue to receive taxes.
He stated that the law will have a disproportionate impact on the impoverished and vulnerable, the majority of whom voted for President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government.
On Friday, July 28, the Court of Appeal lifted the orders prohibiting the implementation of the Act pending the appeal hearing and decision.
“As a result of our decision, the application is granted with the effect that the order issued on July 10, 2023, suspending the Finance Act 2023, and the order prohibiting the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, be and are hereby lifted pending the hearing and determination of the appeal. “Costs will be determined by the outcome of the appeal,” stated Justice Mohammed Warsame.
The law has been widely criticized by Kenyans, who assert that it will exacerbate poverty by imposing additional taxes on an already overburdened population.
Omtatah Threatens Finance Act Targeting, Post Court Verdict
