Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, with the justices voting 6–3 that the tariffs went beyond statutory limits. Collage of US President Donald Trump and Kenya's President William Ruto. /FILE“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Roberts wrote for the court. “When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints,” Roberts wrote. The new levies hit key Kenyan exports — including textiles, coffee, and tea — and formed part of a broader reciprocal strategy targeting countries that impose tariffs on American products.

Source: Daily Nation February 21, 2026 04:20 UTC