Kenya – Kenyan police fired tear gas as hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Nairobi on Thursday, vowing nation-wide demonstrations against tax hikes that many fear will worsen a cost-of-living crisis.
The cash-strapped government of President William Ruto agreed to make concessions on Tuesday after hundreds of mostly young protesters clashed with the police in the capital.
BREAKING: Kenya Police lobby tear gas canisters inside a Super Metro minibus in the Nairobi CBD. #REJECTFINANCEBILL2024 pic.twitter.com/WCMnX6fwi4
— Adam Maina ™ (@AdamMaina_) June 20, 2024
But the government will still go ahead with some tax increases and has defended the proposed hikes as necessary for filling its coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.
Protesters have vowed to stage demonstrations across the country, including in the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa and the lakeside city of Kisumu, both opposition bastions.
“They need to reject the bill, not edit it,” Sarah Njoroge, 21, told AFP. “It appears that they think we are vocal on social media and will get tired.”
The authorities have blocked several roads near parliament in Nairobi and deployed a heavy police presence, after lawmakers began debating the bill on Wednesday.
Protesters in Nairobi said they would march to parliament, which must pass the final version of the bill before June 30.
NAIROBI, KENYA! pic.twitter.com/MKvdX6ojHt
— Sir-Rap-A-Lot (@Osama_otero) June 20, 2024
A parliament source told AFP that a vote on the proposals was expected on June 27.
The taxes were projected to raise 346.7 billion shillings ($2.7 billion), equivalent to 1.9 percent of GDP, and reduce the budget deficit from 5.7 percent to 3.3 percent of GDP.
Budget shortfall
The presidency on Tuesday announced the removal of proposed levies on bread purchases, car ownership as well as financial and mobile services, prompting a warning from the treasury of a 200-billion-shilling shortfall as a result of the budget cuts.
The government has now targeted an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes, a move critics say will make life more expensive in a country already battling high inflation.
The IMF influence on the Finance Bill 2024 has refused to go away, even today. MPs are now boldly calling their names and warning them to keep off Kenya’s affairs. @renee_mayaka is beating and going. pic.twitter.com/dWkeCcgcjz
— Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) June 20, 2024
The East African economic powerhouse relies heavily on diesel for transport, power generation and agriculture, while kerosene is used by many households for cooking and lighting.
Tuesday’s protest was largely peaceful with black-clad protesters forced into cat-and-mouse chases with police who fired volleys of teargas.
At least 335 people were arrested, according to a consortium of lobby groups including the human rights commission KNCHR and Amnesty Kenya.
We are deeply outraged by the arbitrary arrest of peaceful protestors during this #OccupyParliamant protest. Today, the @NPSOfficial_KE has shown a blatant disregard for the right to protest, opting instead to silence dissent through force and intimidation. pic.twitter.com/4JAOfHmEYA
— Amnesty Kenya (@AmnestyKenya) June 18, 2024
“We have changed tack. Today we will be in colourful and defiant clothing to avoid a repeat of them arresting everyone in black,” said an organiser of the march, who requested anonymity fearing reprisals.
Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but a third of its 51.5 million people live in poverty.
Overall inflation has remained stubbornly high, at an annual rate of 5.1 percent in May, while food and fuel inflation stood at 6.2 percent and 7.8 percent respectively, according to central bank data.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Unsplash
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