Senator Okiya Omtatah of Busia has launched a lawsuit to oppose Finance Bill 2023-24, calling it illegal.

Omutatah accused the government of violating constitutional tax constraints in his complaint filed at the Milimani Law Court in Nairobi.

According to the Busia senator, some provisions of the Bill undermine the right to property, access to justice, and the Constitution in general.

He now requests that the court issue orders halting the debate and prohibiting the speaker of the National Assembly from forwarding the Finance Bill to the President.

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PHOTO | COURTESY Omutata

According to Omutatah, the petition presents significant legal questions, and the file should be forwarded to the Chief Justice, who should appoint a bench of judges to hear and decide the matter.

"There are many things in that Finance Bill that are not proper," the Senator remarked, citing the proposed 3% housing charge as one example.

According to Omutatah, the housing charge is a "blanket levy" with flaws that must be corrected.

He also criticized the proposed insurance payment taxation.

Omutatah has demanded the government make public the actual country's debt, which he claims has been overstated by more than KES3.6 trillion.

According to Central Bank of Kenya data, the country's debt is expected to reach KES9.41 trillion by the end of June 2023, above the KES10 trillion debt ceiling.

PHOTO | COURTESY Omutata

On the other hand, azimio la Umoja leader raila odinga had given President William ruto until Monday to withdraw the finance bill or face the consequences.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation Headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Odinga said the President Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza administration had until Monday next week to listen to Kenyans' views on the Bill or "face their wrath."

Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna asked the governor to consider the voice of the people who need the price of unga to go down while opposing the finance bill.

"Maisha imetushinda hapa Nairobi," she says. Watu ya unga imeshinda bei. Sisi watu wa Nairobi tunapinga huo mswada kwa sababu tumechoka na mzigo. Imechoka punda. Mzigo zaidi msituongezee."