Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has strongly condemned the actions of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Managing Director, calling for their imprisonment.
The controversy arose after EPRA decided to amend the Value Added Tax (VAT) requirement on fuel, increasing it from 8% to 16%.
This move directly defied a ruling by the High Court, which had previously ordered the suspension of the contentious Finance Act, 2023.
The court’s decision to suspend the implementation of the Finance Act was made on June 30, following a petition filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who challenged the Act’s validity.
Senator Maanzo, speaking at a church fundraiser in Utawala, Nairobi County, expressed his disdain for the Act, labeling it a fraud.
He further demanded the arrest of the EPRA boss for their blatant contempt of court. Maanzo also criticized President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of disregarding the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
The recent revision of fuel prices, implemented by EPRA on June 30, has led to a significant increase in costs for motorists in Nairobi.
The price of petrol skyrocketed to Ksh.195.50 per litre, while diesel reached Ksh.179.60. Senator Omtatah, who initiated the legal challenge against the Finance Act, issued a warning to the EPRA management, demanding compliance with the court order.
On July 2, Omtatah took to Twitter to reveal that he had engaged in a conversation with the Managing Director of EPRA.
During their discussion, he reminded the MD of the court’s suspension of the Finance Act and the injunction preventing any part of it from being implemented. Omtatah explicitly conveyed his intention to file contempt proceedings against EPRA if they chose to ignore the court order.
Despite the ongoing legal battle and the High Court’s extension of conservatory orders suspending the Act’s implementation until July 10, fuel prices remain at an all-time high.
This delay adds to the mounting frustration among Kenyan citizens, who have been grappling with the burden of exorbitant fuel costs.
The case petition filed by Senator Omtatah will be heard on July 10, offering a glimmer of hope for a resolution to this contentious issue.
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