Kenya Court Declares 2023 Finance Law Unconstitutional

Kenya's Court of Appeal has declared the government's 2023 finance law unconstitutional, delivering a significant setback to President William Ruto's administration amidst ongoing protests. The finance law, which included measures such as doubling the value-added tax on fuel and introducing a housing tax, was challenged in court after violent demonstrations against its provisions. The court's ruling stated that the enactment process of the law breached Kenya’s budget-making laws and was fundamentally flawed. This decision follows an earlier High Court ruling that had only struck down the housing levy, while the government continues to rely on the 2023 law for tax collection. Ruto's administration faces the option of appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court as it grapples with substantial public debt and fiscal challenges. In response to the protests, Ruto has made significant cabinet changes, including the nomination of a new finance minister.