Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya – In a recent gathering in Elgeyo Marakwet County, government officials, in what seemed to be a coordinated effort, launched an attack on the Kenyan Judiciary following the high court’s order to temporarily suspend the implementation of the new Finance Act 2023. This took place in the presence of President William Ruto, who refrained from commenting on the issue and instead addressed the insecurity situation in the north.
The officials’ reaction was in response to a high court order issued on Friday, which put a hold on the implementation of the Finance Act 2023. The Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi led the criticism and was joined by several committee chairmen from Parliament.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi argued that the judiciary needs to consider public interest when making decisions. He urged the high court to reevaluate its stance, highlighting that the economic recovery process is a race against time and indicating that the president has set the pace for the nation’s recovery.
In a similar vein, Majority Leader in the Senate, Aaron Cheruyot, asserted that the judiciary’s decision would result in the loss of taxes for the period between Saturday, July 1st when the act was set to take effect, and July 5th when the court is expected to issue further directions. He was quoted saying, “We also want our Judiciary to be mindful of the fact that we have a country which must be run… we collect in excess of 60 billion every day. When we zero-rate raw materials that are going to be used in the manufacture of fertilizer, who on Earth have a problem with that?”
On the other hand, President William Ruto chose to focus on the security situation in the northern region. Addressing the issue of banditry, the president made it clear that security operations in the region would be permanent to ensure the full security of the North. The President’s focus on security seemed to underline the significance of resolving the banditry menace in the area, as part of the government’s broader goals.
This event highlighted the tension between different branches of the Kenyan government, as well as the varied priorities and pressures facing the country. The final decision of the court on the matter of the Finance Act 2023, which is expected on July 5th, will be closely watched for its implications on the economic recovery process.
Elgeyo Marakwet County, which has been grappling with insecurity issues, was at the forefront of this political gathering, where economic policies and security issues took center stage.
