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Saturday, July 1, 2023 –Firebrand Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has issued Energy regulator an ultimatum to lower the cost of fuel in the country following the recent High Court ruling delivered against government.
On Saturday July 1, Omtatah cautioned the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority EPRA against enacting new 16 percent fuel taxes dubbed Value Added Tax VAT.
When reached for confirmation, Omtatah said he had already spoken with the regulator’s managing Director Daniel Kiptoo Bragonia to restore back normal prices.
This is after EPRA announced new prices of fuel in the country where a litre of super petrol shot to sh 195,Ddiesel to sh 179.67 and Kerosene to sh 173.44.
In Omtatah’s ultimatum, should EPRA fail to revert back the prices, he will walk back to the courts with another law suit.
“I talked to the MD and I hope he will act. We focused on the court orders that suspended the Finance Act and they gave an injunction against any part of it.
“I have told him if they ignore, I will file a contempt proceeding against them. I will take them to court to be punished for disobeying court orders,” noted Omtatah.
He bragged of securing two high court orders stopping any attempts by the State to impose new taxes to Kenyans.
And therefore, implementing any section of the new law, he warned, will be tantamount to contempt of active court orders.
EPRA increased fuel prices to sh195 after President William Ruto signed the Finance Bill 2023 into law. In the Act, the government doubled VAT imposed on fuel products from 8 to 16 per cent.
Already, two court orders have since been issued against the new tax law recently signed by the head of State.
Apart from Okiya Omtata’s petition, one Peter Agoro also secured a second order from the High Court stopping attempts to the implement the Finance Act 2023. He argued that the Finance Bill 2023 was founded on illegality that infringes and violates the Kenyan Constitution.
