In Nairobi, the High Court has given the government a victory by permitting the importation of 125,000 metric tons of affordable edible oils, without paying duties.
Judge John Chigiti has decided that the court did not have the right to make the previous orders to stop this import.
He said, “The application chambers dated 17 April 2023 is hereby struck out for lack of jurisdiction and all consequential orders are discharged.”
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had gone to court to protest against the government’s decision to bring in tax-free edible oils, claiming that the proper constitutional procedures were not followed.
However, the government argued against the case, saying that the court’s orders to stop the import of edible oils would hurt citizens.
The government wanted to help people during the tough economic times caused by the ongoing drought in the country.
The government also explained that the importation included not just cooking oil but also rice, wheat, and beans.
The court, in allowing the imports, mentioned that those who brought the case did not prove where they got the documents they relied on.
During a hearing in August, the government told the court that it would lose Ksh.17 billion in the next 6 months if the orders were not canceled.
Read, also;
Tragic Incident As A Man Dies After Collapsing During KDF Recruitment In Kirinyaga