National Assembly Issues New Directive Over Hiked Fuel Prices
A petition was brought before the National Assembly following the recent fuel price increase that has sent the nation into fury.
Gathogo Wanjiru 
The document received by the Speaker was filed by Anthony Manyara and John Wangai calling for "urgent repeal of Section 13 of the Finance Act 2018.
According to the petitioners, this will address the drastic hike in prices of petroleum and petroleum products through the abolition of the currently prescribed 8% Value Added Tax.
During a session on Tuesday, September 21, Speaker Justin Muturi stated that the matter was urgent and directed the Finance Committee to submit a report in 14 days.
"The petitions aver that all taxpayers and consumers of petroleum and petroleum products have been adversely impacted by the law which they term as draconian."
"This is a matter that squarely and exclusively falls within the authority and mandate of the National Assembly as espoused in at least five provisions of the Constitution," Muturi stated
Speaker Muturi directed the committee to "table its report within 14 days in view of the urgency of the matter and in consideration of the effects it has on the populace".
Further, he directed the Finance Committee to attach a draft bill to the report for any approval for publication proposing legislative intervention by the National Assembly as sought by the petitioners.
MPs questioned why the government was silent over the matter as Kenyans struggled to get their lives back together following the financial effects of the pandemic.
