A Non-governmental organisation has moved to court seeking to suspend the increase in road maintenance levy from Sh18 to Sh25 per litre.
The new petroleum prices were announced on July 14 by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
In its documents filed before the Milimani Law Courts, the Commission for Human Rights and Justice says the announcement is in contrast to an official statement issued by the former CS on July 8.
They allege that the former CS had in the communication assured the public that the Road Maintenance Levy (RML) would not be increased unless and until there are austerity measures put in place to ensure that any revenue measures adopted would not result in a rise in the cost of living.
The NGO claim the decision of Epra has elicited sharp uproars from members of the public who were still grappling with the news of proposed increased and new taxes in the Finance Bill 2024 that have since been dropped.
Julius Ogogoh the executive director of the NGO alleges that Epra didn't adhere to principles of transparency and public participation as provided in the constitution.
"The respondents clearly failed to adequately incorporate the feedback received from the members of the public during the consultation period to the extent that the CS negated the promises he made to the public on the topic of increment of the Road Maintenance Levy (RML)," Ogogoh said.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed him to serve his papers on the CS, Epra, Kenya Roads Board and Attorney General by close of business Friday.
The respondents will then be required to file their responses by August 9.
Parties will appear for further directions on August 18.
