Expected changes in the fiscal policy to attract investment in Kenya

The current administration is committed to bringing legislative amendments to the fiscal policy through the Finance Bill, 2023, and the Budget Policy Statement. President William Ruto noted that the changes in the fiscal policy would introduce the National Tax Policy within the next three months

Energy ministry signs new deal for supply of petroleum products to ease pressure on the shilling

In a bid to ease pressure on the shilling currently depreciating in value against the dollar, the government has adopted a government-to-government deal on oil importation. In a statement, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir said the government went into an agreement with

Despatch from the Cabinet: Highlights from the March 20 communique

The country’s national policy organ, the Cabinet, reconvened on 20th March 2023 under the leadership of President William Ruto. In the meeting, the Cabinet considered a number of bills and policy documents that aim to enhance economic productivity through agriculture, investments, trade, and industry. Key

Key highlights of the 2023 Budget Policy Statement report

The Budget and Appropriations Committee is a standing committee at the National Assembly tasked with among other functions investigating and reporting on all matters related to the coordination, control, and monitoring of the national budget and evaluation of tax estimates, and economic and budgetary policies.

Uproar over LGBTQ verdict in Kenya: Are attacks on the Supreme Court justified or misplaced?

Homosexuality remains criminalised in Kenya. However, the ruling by the Supreme Court that the LGBTQ community cannot be denied the right of association was met with protests from top political and religious leaders. Likewise, some foreign missions like the Russian Embassy even showed support for

17th February 2023 Trade and Financial Services Round Up

Kenya Nairobi plans new zoning policy as exclusivity wanes Nairobi is considering a new zoning policy, which will reclassify some estates as residential or mixed-use neighbourhoods at a time some suburbs are coming under pressure from a previous reclassification that has hurt their exclusivity. Speaking

Communications Authority emerging technologies regulatory sandbox: A Primer

The Communications Authority of Kenya in January sent out a call for public consultation for emerging technologies regulatory sandbox. A regulatory sandbox can be considered as a regulatory space where a regulator allows anyone within the delimited space and time to test out business models,

3rd February Trade and Financial Services Round Up

Kenya EPRA reveals second plan to increase cost of power The Water Resources and Management Authority (WARMA) is the latest State entity to seek a bigger pie of the electricity bills in what looks set to further increase the cost of power. WARMA has applied

Snooping on tax evaders: Balancing between protection of personal data and KRA’s bid to monitor transactions

As the world marks Data Privacy Day on 28th January 2023, Kenya has been busy this week with a series of activities organized by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to commemorate the day. The week-long events will culminate in a two-day Data

13th January County Round Up

  BOMET The Governor of Bomet County has gazetted the County Pending Bills Ad Hoc Committee, 2022, to verify and audit pending bills, advise and guide the county government on settlement of the said bills and prepare a report. BUSIA The Speaker of Busia County

Cytonn’s dilemma in the face of liquidation order

A high court ruling in Kenya this week has ordered the liquidation of two funds owned by Cytonn Real Estate – Cytonn High Yields Solution (CHYS) and the Cytonn Real Estate Project Notes (CPN) – to recover Kshs 14 billion owed to 4,000 investors. Some

The year in review: Highlights of key legislative and policy updates

The year 2022 saw the introduction of several legislative and regulatory updates. Similarly, Kenya launched some notable policies and strategies whose implementation will impact both the private and public sectors. As 2022 draws to a close, we look back at some of the key legislative

Another attempt to change the 2010 Constitution months after BBI blow

A genuine attempt at a constitutional amendment to placate the fledgling opposition and do right with the women base or a red-herring to distract Kenyans and buy to time for his administration that is facing a myriad of challenges as it clocks 100 days? These

9th December 2022 Political and Regulatory Round Up

KENYA   Ruto’s Hustler Fund challenged in court   The government’s decision to establish the Sh50 billion Hustler Fund has been challenged in court by two civilians who claim that the kitty is illegal and an avenue to loot public coffers.   The petitioners, Mr

Fuel subsidy: Why scrapping it is not as easy as it sounds

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the sabotage of the global supply chain hence hiking of  fuel prices. This in return led to the spiral effect spilling to other sectors of the economy thus pushing up the cost of living. In a statement, National Treasury CS

17th June 2022 Parliamentary Round Up

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY  The National Assembly has entered into Sine Die Recess (Indefinite suspension of sittings).  SENATE Communication from the Chair The Speaker of the Senate received a message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill

Sounding the alarm on irregular appointments to public boards in Kenya

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has recently quashed the appointment of board members of certain state corporations, citing a lack of transparency and competitiveness in the recruitment process. The latest casualties include the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards

27th May 2022 Kenya Gazette Review

 Legislative Supplements, 2022 The Capital Markets (Whistleblower) Regulations, 2022. The Capital Markets (Conduct of Business) (Market Intermediaries) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022. The Capital Markets (Licensing Requirements) (General) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022. The Value Added Tax (Digital Marketplace Supply) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022. The Insurance (Amendment) Regulations, 2022. The

Recognising the youth during World Intellectual Property Day and what recordation entails for importers

The World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26. Since the year 2000, the day is celebrated to raise awareness of the impact patents, copyright, trademarks and design have on our daily life. Intellectual Property (IP) rights are used to encourage innovation and

Tax Talk Series webinar: A look at post Budget effect on taxes

The Tax Talk Series hosted by the Kenya Revenue Authority held a webinar on April 8, 2022, to discuss the post budget effects on taxes. The session which lasted for close to an hour was moderated by Nixon Omondi – Manager, Digital Economy, Tax Office.

The journey towards curbing single use plastics in Kenya

Plastic pollution is one of the most severe threats to the integrity of our planet’s health. Single-use plastics are polluting most ecosystems from rainforests to the world’s deepest ocean trench. Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002; then, Morocco followed the

Kenyans dig deeper into their pockets after fuel and LPG prices go up even as regulator seeks to control gas prices 

Rubis Energy recently released its reviewed prices of liquefied petroleum gas refills. Customers refilling a 13kg gas cylinder would have to part with Kshs 3,340 from the current price of Kshs 3,113 being an increase of over Kshs 200. Pricing of cooking gas is unregulated

Proposed EU Data Act and possible impact of the rules

On February 23, the European Commission proposed new rules on who can use and access data generated in the EU across all economic sectors. These rules would be contained in the proposed Data Act. According to the press release, the proposal for the Data Act

Kenyan Parliament is mulling over proposed law changes seeking to reduce protection of forests

The Kenyan Parliament is currently reviewing an amendment proposal to the Forest Conservation and Management Act which gives the Kenya Forestry Services (KFS)  authority over boundaries and excisions in state forests. The Forest Conservation and Management Amendment Bill 2021 seeks to repeal Section 34 of

Scrap metal ban and the need to crack the whip on critical infrastructure vandalism

President Uhuru Kenyatta has banned any exports or dealings in scrap metal. The Head of State cited increased vandalism of government infrastructure which he described as economic sabotage. He added that tough action would be taken against anyone found culpable of vandalism. This comes days

Another contest on the way in new anti-money laundering Bill

The balance between the protection of the right to privacy and enforcing anti-money laundering laws will once again come to the fore as Parliament works to seal loopholes in the current legal framework.  Kenya is considered one of the major money laundering jurisdictions in the

Regulating the legal tech space, Bills in the pipeline

Bridging the nexus between technology and the law has proven to be an increasingly tumultuous  domain to regulate. However, this has not discouraged Kenyan legislators from attempting to regulate the disruptive sector. Below is a snapshot of four proposed legislation, at varying stages of approval,

Increasing ease of doing business in Kenya

The Business Laws (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021 (“New Act”) was signed into law on 30th March 2021, thereby coming into effect straightaway. The new Act amends various laws and  is part of the reforms that are aimed at facilitating ease of doing business in

Highlights of the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Amos Kimunya, the Leader of the Majority Party is proposing amendments to the Anti-Doping Act, 2016 through the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The object of the bill is to align the Anti-Doping Act 2016 with the 2021 Anti-doping Code and Regulations so as to allow

A LOOK AT THE PROPOSED BBI LEGISLATIVE REFORMS

The Building Bridges Steering Committee made recommendations on the implementation of the Report and they drafted several amendment bills. Herein below we provide a brief summary of the laws proposed for amendments and analysis of the same:  1.The Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 The Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020

End of Cabinet working recess: Goodies in Cabinet Despach

The Cabinet ended a two week working vacay on the 28th August and had its first Cabinet Meeting yesterday the 10th of September. The focus areas of the meeting, according to a despatch released soon after, were an economic stimulus as well as seminal programmes and projects under the Big Four agenda.

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) asks Foreign Electronic Certification Service Providers to register

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published a public notice asking all foreign Electronic Certification Providers are required to apply for recognition within 30 days. This follows the enactment and operationalization of the Business Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 early this year. The Act, which