President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected the Finance Bill 2018 on Thursday, sending it back to Parliament.
This means the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel stays put.
A special sitting of the National Assembly has been called by the Speaker Justin Muturi for Tuesday, 18th September and on Thursday, September 20.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 29(3) of the Standing Orders of the Members of the National Assembly, it is notified that special sittings of the Assembly shall be held in the National Assembly Chamber in the Main Parliament Buildings, on Tuesday, September 18 and on Thursday, September 20,” states a Gazette Notice dated September 13.
Speaker Muturi on Thursday presented the Bill to the President and State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena confirmed that Uhuru received the legislation.
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The legislation was approved by the National Assembly on August 30, 2018.
The 16% VAT was imposed on September 1, resulting into a sharp increase in fuel prices.
An attendant fueling a car. [Courtesy]
Members of Parliament (MP) put pressure on Speaker Muturi on Wednesday to immediately submit the Bill for signing.
The legislators said it was immoral and a clear sabotage against the House's decision to suspend the tax through an amendment by Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.
“It is dishonest, unfair for Parliament to sit on the Bill,” said National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi.
Mbadi alluded to a scheme by the House leadership to help the President buy time while the team drawn from Treasury, Parliament and the presidency came up with proposals on the way forward after MPs rejected nearly all new tax measures by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
Mbadi stated the National Assembly clerk and the Attorney General had finalised the Bill a week ago.
