Econet Wireless Group announced that the High Court in Kenya has restored the licence of Econet Wireless Kenya, which was rescinded by the Minister of Tourism and Communications over the weekend.

The High Court Judge, Justice Ibrahim, who accepted the matter as an urgent application on Tuesday morning, said the minister had no legal authority to cancel the 15-year licence granted to Econet by the country?s communications regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya.

The High Court agreed to consider the matter as urgent after Econet said in its papers that the statement by the minister had generated negative perceptions about the company globally, since it had operations in a number of countries.

Econet Wireless Group CEO, Strive Masiyiwa, said after the ruling, that although he had initially been saddened by what he called a ?bizarre decision taken on a weekend?, his company was delighted that the Kenyan High Court had been efficient and bold in its response.

?As foreign investors in Kenya we rely on the integrity of courts to protect our business interests. Other investors should take comfort in the fact that Kenya is a country that appears to have an effective judiciary,? Masiyiwa concludes.