Kenya's President William Ruto addresses delegates after signing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Amendment Bill 2024, backed by the National Dialogue Committee , at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya July 9, 2024., inflicting a new blow to the government of President William Ruto who withdrew this year’s finance bill after deadly protests.
The 2023 version was challenged in court following a round of political opposition-led street protests that turned violent, after Ruto’s government used it to double the value added tax on fuel, introduce a housing tax, and raise the top personal income tax rate, among other measures. The court’s verdict was in respect of an appeal of another one from the High Court late last year, which largely left the finance bill intact, only striking out the housing levy.
The government, which has been relying on the 2023 finance law to continue collecting taxes after Ruto withdrew this year’s bill, did not immediately comment on the ruling.