Court suspends sale of 11 parastatals

Justice Chacha Mwita. [File, Standard]

The High Court has suspended the sale of 11 parastatals pending hearing of the case on February 6, 2024.

Some of the corporations earmarked for privatisation are; the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB)

Justice Chacha Mwita, in court documents seen by the Standard stated; "I am satisfied that the petition raises substantial constitutional and legal issues of public importance that require critical examination and consideration by the court."

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), while filing the case, said some assets could only be privatised with the consent of Kenyans through a referendum.

President William Ruto had mentioned that the government was ready to privatise 35 State companies "trapped in government bureaucracy" in a bid to boost productivity following a change to laws.

This is after he signed a revised Privatisation bill into law that makes it easier to sell State enterprises to private companies.

Ruto said the revised law aims to push up the private sector's participation in the economy.