Nairobi, May 15 -- The High Court is expected to make a ruling on Monday on whether the government's planned sale of a 15 percent stake in Safaricom Plc to parent firm Vodacom Group Limited will proceed.

The South African multinational made the disclosure to investors last week, while noting that it expected a rapid close to the transaction should the court give a favourable ruling.

The transaction was frozen when petitioners Tony Gachoka and Fredrick Ogola sued several State agencies, Safaricom and Vodacom, questioning the legality of the government's plan to reduce its stake in the telecoms giant.

Two other petitions were filed by Paul Maina and a litigant only identified as Mr Samuel. The two cases were later merged.

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