Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has moved to court to challenge the Nairobi City County Finance Act.

By Lucianne Limo

NAIROBI, KENYA: Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has moved to court to challenge the Nairobi City County Finance Act terming it illegal and unconstitutional.

Sonko argues that the said Act was not tabled in parliament for scrutiny as required by law and hence the procedure for its legislation was flouted. Sonko has sued the Nairobi County government.

“The taxes, levies, charges and fees affected by the act have imposed extreme hardship on the people of Nairobi County, “he stated.

He added that Act was assented to on September 4 and came into effect and has been operational and led to taxes, levies and fees imposed on the public and constituents of the city.

He pointed out that had the Finance Act been scrutinized by parliament, most levies imposed would have been reviewed or otherwise passed by parliament giving the provision constitutional sanctity.

He wants the court to issue orders barring the Nairobi County from effecting the provisions of the Finance Act until legal procedure of enacting the said Act is complied with.

He further wants all the provisions of the Act assented on September 4 last year quashed.

The Senator noted that the making and passing of the Act was unprocedural and went against the spirit of the law.

Sonko told the court that the issues he has raised in the petition are of great public interest and should be treated with utmost urgency saying its determination shall have far reaching effects on all other statutory instruments which emanate