Editor's Review

This came after the Court of Appeal lifted the suspension on the implementation of the Finance Act 2023.

Safaricom has announced new rates for its flagship products in line with the new finance law.

The fees incurred by MPesa users will see an immediate upward review to align with the Excise Duty rates.

In a statement, Safaricom informed its customers that the fees charged on MPesa transfers will be upped by 3% from the pre-existing 12%.

It is however a reprieve for the customers as the duty rate on telecommunication would cause the reduction of charges on calls, short texts, data bundles, and home internet.

The rate on the aforementioned will be reviewed downward; customers will now make calls, short messages and enjoy the internet at lower rates following the 20% to 15% revision.

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All these is after the verdict by the Court of Appeal to suspend the injunction on the Finance Act 2023.

On Friday, July 28, trio of appellate judges ruled that the appeal filed by the National Treasury and the Office of the Attorney General had merit.

The appellants argued that the orders suspending the finance law had impeded the government in collecting its dues.

An instance was drawn from the taxes from employees' payrolls.

The main suit filed by litigious activist Okiya Omtatah and others is now before a three-judge bench appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Activist Okiya Omtatah.

Omtatah filed a petition against the law in June citing oppressive tax regime in it.

Justice Mugure Thande of the High Court issued conservatory orders on June 30 barring the implementation of the finance law that President William Ruto signed on June 26.

On July 10, Justice Thande objected to the National Treasury's application to have the suspension lifted; she said the matters raised by Omtatah and the other petitioners were too grave to be handled by one judge.

She referred the case to the chief justice who appointed the three judges to hear and determine it.

The specifics of the verdict by the appellate judges will be in force until the three judges appointed by Koome determine the case.

Reacting to the Court of Appeal ruling, Omtatah vowed to challenge the finance law till end.

"We will not give up until the Finance Act 2023 is entirely quashed by the court because it contains provisions which are parallel to the Constitution," he said.