Kesses MP Julius Rutto has urged the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) to withdraw its premature legal challenges and wait for Parliament to conclude its debate on the Finance Bill 2026.

Speaking during an interview with NTV on Wednesday, Rutto defended the operational independence of the legislature, arguing that the judiciary cannot legally interfere with a bill that is still active on the floor of the House.

Rutto emphasized that the three arms of government must respect each other’s processes without interference.

The MP advised COFEK to review past judicial rulings, asserting that courts routinely reject petitions aimed at stopping parliament from performing its constitutional duties.

“You cannot cut the process. You only wait for the final product so that you challenge the outcome that it failed to meet the qualifications,” Rutto stated.

Conversely, COFEK has approached the courts out of fear that waiting for the legislative process to conclude will result in irreversible economic damage.

According to filed court documents, the lobby group argues:

The current bill poses an immediate threat to consumers, taxpayers, and businesses.

Because the legislative process is already at an advanced stage, the contested tax provisions could be enacted before the courts have a chance to evaluate them.

COFEK is seeking immediate conservatory orders to freeze the bill’s progress while its constitutional merits are fully heard and determined.