The High Court in Kenya has issued an interim order restraining government from collecting/imposing taxes on table eggs imported from Uganda.
On March 25, 2022; Eggs Traders Association of Kenya petitioned the High Court at Kisumu against the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Immigration Services, Kenya Revenue Authority, Ministry of East Africa Community and Regional Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation and the Attorney General over taxes imposed on eggs imported from Uganda.
Sitting April 4, 2022; court granted the petitioner an injunction restraining the respondents from collecting/imposing tax on table eggs imported from Uganda.
Pending the hearing and determination of the petition, court also granted an order suspending Section 32 (a) (4) of the Finance Act 2021.
Court also set July 13, 2022 as the date for further orders and/or directions.
It should be noted that Kenya has been restricting Ugandan products for sometime.
However, Nairobi agreed to lift barriers that hindered the sale of poultry products from Uganda in December 2021.
This followed bilateral talks held between Agriculture ministers from the two countries.
In a joint communique sent to newsrooms, the two neighbouring countries said they would not impose restrictions on poultry as they work out a long-term policy deal to eliminate trade barriers.
The sale of poultry products has been the most contentious in a longstanding trade spat that also includes a ban on Uganda dairy products in Kenya since 2019.
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