NAIROBI, Kenya, June 25, 2024 – Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against a proposed tax increase in downtown Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. During the protests, at least five people were shot dead and over 150 were injured.
The protests, now in their second week, were sparked by new tax measures proposed by President William Ruto’s administration. People gathered in various towns across Kenya, including Nairobi, where they stormed the National Assembly and Senate buildings, despite police firing warning shots.
In a televised speech, President Ruto called the protests treasonous and vowed to prevent such events from happening again. He instructed security forces to use all necessary means to maintain national security. Ruto emphasized that those behind the protests would be held accountable.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta urged for calm and dialogue, expressing sadness over the loss of lives. He encouraged leaders to listen to the people’s concerns and avoid hostility.
The protests came after lawmakers passed the finance bill 2024, which aims to raise an additional 346.7 billion shillings (2.67 billion USD) through measures like increasing the railway development levy and the import declaration fee. The bill also introduced an eco-levy on imported electronics to address electronic waste.
Amendments were made to the bill to remove proposed taxes on bread, sugar transportation, financial services, foreign exchange transactions, motor vehicles, and certain levies on the housing fund and social health insurance.
President Ruto, who campaigned on a platform to help the poor, is under pressure to raise revenues amid rising government debt repayments. The ongoing protests reflect the public’s frustration with the new tax measures and their impact on everyday life.
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