NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court has deferred the delivery of judgment in a case seeking to halt the proposed sale of Safaricom shares, citing the need for more time to scrutinise the voluminous documents filed by the parties.
Justice Francis Gikonyo said the bench required additional time to carefully examine the extensive material presented in the case before determining the issues raised by the parties.
The court said the bench had worked extensively during the period allocated for preparing the judgment, including working into the late hours of the night. However, the volume of documents filed in the matter required further meticulous scrutiny to enable the judges to prepare a comprehensive determination.
The court apologised for being unable to finalise the judgment within the initially allocated period and sought the parties’ indulgence to allow the bench additional time.
Justice Gikonyo said the decision was also informed by the principle of judicial accountability under the Constitution, noting that the additional time would allow the court to address all the issues raised by the parties before reaching its determination.
The judgment has now been scheduled for September 15, 2026, when it will be delivered virtually at 11am.
The case has attracted significant national interest because it concerns the proposed sale of Safaricom shares and the implications of the transaction.
Former Vice President and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka welcomed the court’s decision to allow additional time, saying the parties had no objection to the new judgment date.
Musyoka, however, emphasised the national significance of the case, noting that Kenyans were awaiting the court’s determination.
The court’s decision means the legal challenge to the proposed Safaricom share sale will remain unresolved until the new judgment date.
The additional time will allow the bench to scrutinise the extensive evidence and submissions before determining whether the petitioner’s arguments meet the legal threshold for stopping or otherwise affecting the proposed transaction.
The judgment scheduled for September 15 is therefore expected to provide clarity on the legal issues surrounding the proposed sale and determine the next steps for the parties involved.
