PRESS STATEMENT BY SENATOR OKIYA OMTATAH ON THE PUBLIC DEBT CASE RULING
Fellow Kenyans,
Today, the High Court delivered an important ruling in our public debt case.
The Court upheld the @IMFNews claim of diplomatic immunity and struck it out of this petition. While we respect the Court’s decision, accountability for Kenya’s debt burden cannot end there.
We are preparing a separate legal challenge to the Bretton Woods Agreements Act, 1963, against the Constitution of Kenya 2010 to ensure all actors involved in Kenya’s debt processes are subjected to proper scrutiny.
Most importantly, the Court rejected attempts by the Attorney General and other respondents to have this case dismissed. The judges ruled that our petition will proceed to a full hearing on its merits.
The Court also dismissed applications by the former Auditor General, former Controller of Budget, the current Auditor General, and the current Controller of Budget seeking to shield themselves from these proceedings.
This is a significant victory for transparency, accountability, and the Kenyan people.
We will amend our petition as directed by the Court and return on 22nd July 2026. Our mission remains unchanged: to establish how Kenya accumulated trillions in public debt, how the funds were utilized , whether the public benefited and whether the law was followed at every stage.
This case is about protecting the future of our nation and the interests of every Kenyan taxpayer.
We remain focused, determined, and committed to seeing it through.
God Bless Kenya.
#DeniBandia #OdiousDebt
Gen Z did more than reject a Finance Bill, they rewired our politics. From TikTok spaces to court corridors, they disrupted the old script of tribal mobilisation and elite bargains by insisting that public power answer to constitutional principle and economic justice. Their leaderless, tribeless, crowd-sourced organising exposed how quickly informed citizens can fact-check officials, decode bills and turn legalese into rallying cries for accountability. In doing so, they reminded the country that Article 1 is not a slogan but a living reality. All sovereign power belongs to the people, and those who exercise it do so on terms.
Gen Z forced courts to speak faster, MPs to apologise and an Executive that had grown tone-deaf to finally listen. They made institutions feel public pressure in real time and showed that silence in the face of abuse of power is a professional and generational betrayal. Our duty now is to entrench that energy into institutions and not let it fade with the news cycle. If Gen Z could reclaim the streets and the digital public square, the least we can do is ensure that their courage is translated into lasting legal, policy and cultural reform, not another round of cosmetic concessions.
As this moment continues to unfold, let it also be guided by responsibility. Stay safe, remain peaceful and look out for one another. The strength of a movement is not only in its conviction but in its discipline and care for human life. Be each other’s keepers because the future we are demanding must also be one we protect.
I’m not sad that you are saying this nonsense, I’m sad that this is what most people think is how politics should be. We’ve been conditioned to believe a rotation and alliance
of thieves and despots is all we have to choose from. We have been conditioned to never imagine a government for the people by the people. I’m here to remind everyone that it is possible, it’s you who give the thieves a lifeline to continue subjugation. We have the power to stop this madness.
The Finance and Appropriation Bills are probably the two most consequential yearly Bills. It's inconceivable that 187 legislators would be absent during such crucial time. Absolutely unacceptable. Speaks volumes on the quality of legislators. Fagia wote.
Linus Kaikai described yesterday’s National Prayer Breakfast as one of the most heartless gathering in Kenya’s history.
The speakers of the day, and those leading prayers went ahead with their business without a single mention of Utumishi Girls Academy. They even cracked jokes without care, on one of Kenya’s darkest days in recent history.
Man you hear another country say No to their deadly sick citizens landing in their country
Then here goes greedy, political prostitutes offering your country with a failed health care system like citizens in it don’t matter
All this with an active Parliament of 349 members
Kenyans are currently paying more income tax as individuals than companies pay in corporate tax.
PAYE currently stands at up to 35%, compared to 30% corporate tax, leaving workers with less take-home pay.
The proposed 5% PAYE reduction would help correct the imbalance, ease pressure on households, and improve disposable income for workers.
A fairer tax system should support both workers and economic growth.
#BeyondBanking
I’ve just signed a petition calling for Sen. Karen Nyamu to be held accountable for degrading a Grade 10 student in the Kenyan Senate. No child should ever be objectified or humiliated in the Senate or any public institution. Join me and share this post to demand action and stronger protection for children’s dignity.
https://t.co/2OFsxF9CAN https://t.co/2OFsxF9CAN
Children , Kibaki's first Finance Minister David Mwiraria announced that financial year 2003/2004 , Kenya had an excess of budget. There was no need to borrow and every government expenditure was well funded. Good old days.
The Office of the Controller of Budget (@CoB_Kenya) has joined Oxfam Kenya (@oxfamkenya) in two asks around the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2026.
· The Office proposes that a threshold be provided for. The view here is that reorganisations exceeding a prescribed threshold (e.g., Kes 500 million in asset value) obtain an advance ruling from KRA before the CGT exemption applies
· The Office proposes that there be a provision for anti-avoidance requiring that the property transferred back be the same or a directly traceable asset, & that the reorganisation not result in a change of ultimate beneficial ownership within 5 years of completion
Additional proposals from the Office of the Controller of Budget:
· There be a proposal requiring that the reorganised entities remain tax-resident in Kenya for a minimum of 3 years post-restructuring
· There be a proposal that expressly excludes arrangements structured through trusts or nominees not disclosed to KRA
See quoted tweet for Oxfam Kenya's submission