Kenya’s Supreme Court Quashes Ruling that Voided 2023 Finance Law

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed a decision by an appeals court nullifying the 2023 finance law, a victory for the government after protests forced President William Ruto to withdraw this year’s finance bill. The finance bills form the main vehicle for the government to set out revenue-raising measures, and Ruto’s administration has been relying on the 2023 finance law to continue collecting taxes after the rollback of this year’s legislation…The 2023 law was challenged in court following a round of opposition-led protests last year, after Ruto’s government used it to double the value-added tax on fuel, introduce a housing levy and raise the top personal income tax rate, among other measures. Ruto’s government, which took office in September 2022, sought to impose a new round of tax hikes this year, angering many citizens and culminating in deadly protests in June and July in which more than 60 people were killed. (Reuters)