A legal team has filed a petition aiming to halt President William Ruto from approving the contentious Finance Bill, 2024, into law.
The petitioners assert that the National Assembly‘s endorsement of the bill, amidst widespread unrest, lacked proper and lawful public involvement.
The group of lawyers, comprising Kibe Mungai, Ndegwa Njiru, Fanya Mambo Kinuthia, Peter Koira, Lempaa Suiyianka, and the Mt. Kenya Jurist Association, also contests the budget formulation process for the upcoming fiscal year.
They argue that it was illegal and marred by “controversy, hostility, and political rivalry.”
Court documents state, “Due to deliberate negligence by the Finance CS to adhere to Article 221(1) of the Constitution, effective public participation on the Finance Bill, 2024 has not occurred, as the government attempts to exert authority to generate additional revenue without constitutionally authorized budgeting.”
The lawyers highlight that the Finance CS released revenue estimates on June 4, 2024, subsequent to the completion of public hearings by the National Assembly Budget Committee and submission of their report to the House.
Moreover, they allege, “The budget-making process has been compromised by interference and imposition of policy preferences by foreign governments and corporations, notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has assumed significant influence over Kenya’s Treasury, undermining the sovereignty of Kenyan public finance.”
The petitioners are requesting the Chief Justice to appoint a five-judge bench to expeditiously handle this issue of national importance.
In summary, the legal team seeks judicial intervention to prevent the President from enacting the Finance Bill, 2024, citing inadequate public participation during its formulation and asserting foreign interference in Kenya’s fiscal affairs.
They urge a swift and serious consideration of their petition by the judiciary.
Medic abducted in anti finance bill protests released hours after incident
