Kenya: Maraga - Thorn in Flesh of Executive to the End
23 December 2020
By Sam Kiplagat
When Chief Justice David Maraga delivered his last State of the Judiciary address late last month, he struck a conciliatory tone.
The CJ pleaded for forgiveness from those he might have annoyed or whose expectations he did not live up to.
Among those he reached out to was President Kenyatta, maintaining that he had nothing personal against him or his administration despite having several run-ins. It is clear that there is a difference of opinion between me and you. But I want to assure you and the entire nation that I have nothing personal against you. To the contrary, I have given you your respect as our Head of State. I am totally apolitical and hold no brief for any politician or political interest, he said.
Kenya loses bid for tax on EAC bottle imports
Tuesday December 15 2020
By EDWIN OKOTH
Kenya has lost a bid to impose a 25 per cent excise tax on imported bottles from the East African region after the court ordered that the move be frozen.
The order by the East African Court of Justice presents a major relief for local beverage manufacturers who were hit by the directive that saw them absorb extra cost as they could not pass down the costs to consumers given the low sales during a pandemic year, according to the manufacturers’ petition to Parliament in April.
Previously, the bottles had no excise duty on them but the government introduced it in April, causing Tanzanian bottle manufacturer Kioo Limited to move to court seeking to freeze the tax contained in the Business Laws (Amendment) Act.