Omtatah's Message After Court Slammed Brakes on Ruto's Finance Act

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has broken his silence after a High Court in Nairobi stopped the implementation of the Finance Act 2023.

The Act is a product of a Finance Bill 2023 that was passed by parliament and assented into law by Ruto on Monday.

Speaking after the court ruled to stop its implementation, Omtatah welcomed the decision.

He said he will accept the verdict of the court even if it will later allow the bill to sail through arguing that according to him, it fell short of legal standards.

"Nimeshukuru kwa sababu mahakama imechukua hatua ambayo inafaa; kusimamisha hiyo sheria kwa muda ili tuweze kuangalia ni nini ilitokea na kama kweli madai yangu ya kwamba ni sheria gushi ina msingi," he said.

Omtatah was among the petitioners who had moved to stop the implementation of the Finance Act.

He told President William Ruto that he will move to court in the event the Bill is forced down the throat of Kenyans.

Others are Eliud Karanja Matidi, Michael Kojo Otieno, Benson Odiwuor Otieno, Blair Angima Oigoro, Victor Okuna and Florence Kanyua Lichoro.

Lady Justice Mugure Thande in her ruling said she was satisfied that the application met a threshold for conservatory orders.

"I am satisfied that the application meets the test of conservatory orders and I do grant prayers 2 and 3 of the application until July 5, 2023, when the matter is scheduled for mention for directions," Justice Thande ruled.