The High Court has certified Omtatah’s case as urgent in the finance hearing today. He sought to challenge the Finance Bill 2023-24, by taking it to court.
Omtatah, Busia Senator challenged the Finance Bill by filing a petition against it. Justice Hedwig Ong’undi directed petitioners to serve their petition on the respondents within seven days, starting today.
She further stated that the matter will be mentioned on July 19, for further directions and decisions.
In his suit against the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Omtatah termed the Finance Bill 2023-24 as unconstitutional. He accused the government of breaching limitations on taxation provided by the constitution.
In Omtatah’s arguments, he stated that some sections in the Bill threaten the right to property, access to justice and the Constitution in general. Omtatah said that the petition raised substantial issues of law. He asked that the file be forwarded to the Chief Justice to appoint a bench of judges to hear and determine the case.
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He now wants the court to issue orders suspending the debate. In addition to that, the court prohibited the speaker of the National Assembly from transmitting the Finance Bill to the President.
“There are many things in that Finance Bill which are not proper,” the Senator said listing the 3% proposed housing levy as one of the things that are unconstitutional.
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