Police in Nairobi, Kenya, used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of demonstrators protesting against proposed tax increases. These protests, which were part of coordinated marches across various cities including Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa, and Kisumu, were largely peaceful until police intervention. The tax proposals, aimed at raising $2.7 billion to reduce the budget deficit, have been widely criticized for potentially worsening the already high cost of living.
The protests were sparked by a finance bill that includes new taxes on essential goods and services such as car ownership, bread, cooking oil, and financial transactions. Despite public outcry and some concessions by the government, many protesters believe the measures are still too harsh. The Kenya Red Cross reported that 39 people were injured during the protests, eight of whom are in critical condition.
President William Ruto, elected nearly two years ago on a platform to support the working poor, has defended the tax increases as necessary to reduce the country’s reliance on borrowing. However, the proposed taxes have faced significant backlash, uniting many Kenyans across different regions and backgrounds against the bill.
The demonstrations have been marked by a significant presence of young people, driven largely by grassroots organizing rather than political leaders. Social media has played a crucial role in mobilizing protesters, with hashtags like #OccupyParliament and #RejectFinanceBill2024 gaining traction