Safaricom adjusting call, data, and sms rates to fit Finance Act

Safaricom has stated that tariffs for texts, calls, and data will be adjusted to comply with the Finance Act 2023.

After the Court of Appeal lifted the injunctions preventing the Finance Act's implementation, Safaricom made the announcement on Saturday.

"We will be reviewing our call, sms, data, fibre and M-pesa pricing to reflect the increase in  excise duty rates on fees charged on mobile money transfers services from 12 per cent to 15 per cent," the telecommunications firm said. 

The company also stated that they will take into account the 15% instead of 20% reduction in the excise duty rate for telecommunication services.

According to Safaricom, information on prices for each of their goods can be found at each of their several touch points, including the Safaricom app, by dialling *100# or *544#, or by visiting one of the many M-pesa agents located around the nation.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal approved the Finance Act 2023's implementation.

Judges Mohamed Warsame, Kathurima M'Inoti, and Hello Omondi determined that the applicants had completed the requirements for granting the requested orders and that the public interest leaned towards overturning the conservatory orders made by the trial.

"The upshot of our decision is that the application has merit and the same is allowed as prayed with the effect that the order made on July 10, 2023, suspending the Finance Act 2023, and the order prohibiting the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, be and is hereby lifted pending the hearing and determination of the appeal," the judges ruled. 

The suspension of the Act, according to Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu, is having an impact on government operations.

Ndungu pleaded with the court, stating that if the order is not lifted, there will be a budgetary catastrophe.

Okiya Omtatah, Michael Otieno, Eliud Matindi, and four other senators from Busia filed a lawsuit to prevent the Finance Act of 2023 from going into effect.

The petitioners demanded that the Finance Act be ruled illegal on the grounds that the National Assembly and Senate Speakers cannot agree on issues pertaining to counties.Additionally, they claimed that proper protocol was not followed in the submitting of the Finance Bill, which was later signed into law by President William Ruto.