Tear Gas and Economic Strife: Kenyan Protests Reach Boiling Point

Police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Nairobi protesting against proposed tax hikes. The protests, led by a youth movement, represent a significant challenge to President William Ruto's administration. Despite some concessions, protesters demand the scrapping of the entire finance bill.

Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday as hundreds of people took to the streets across the country to protest against proposed tax hikes. Police units sealed off the parliament and State House, site of the president's office and residence, Citizen Television reported.

Organisers have called for protests and a general strike against the tax legislation hoping to build on momentum that has in the span of a week turned an online, youth-led movement into a major headache for the government. President William Ruto won an election almost two years ago on a platform of championing Kenya's working poor, but has been caught between the competing demands of lenders like the International Monetary Fund, which is urging the government to cut deficits, and a population reeling from cost-of-living increases.

Early on Tuesday, police fired tear gas as groups of protesters gathered in the Central Business District and the Kibera shantytown, Reuters journalists said. Some protesters chanted "Ruto must go". Hundreds of protesters were also marching through the streets of the coastal city of Mombasa and in Kisumu, a port city on Lake Victoria, Kenyan television showed.

"We are young, we are strong and we have time," said Mitchell Mwamodo, 35, a consultant, dressed in a black T-shirt. "Don't take us for fools," he said as tear gas filled the air around him Police dispersed anyone gathering in streets around the parliament in Nairobi.

Protesters waved Kenyan flags and blew whistles, while in one area, waitresses from a pizza restaurant threw bottles of water to demonstrators. Citizen TV showed one person, possible injured, being carried away by other protesters.

Thousands had taken to the streets of Nairobi and several other cities during two days of protests last week. Although the protests last week in Nairobi were almost entirely peaceful, according to Reuters reporters and human rights organisations, police repeatedly fired tear gas and water cannon. Two people were killed, with one struck by a gunshot and another by a tear gas cannister, human rights groups said.

The main association of Kenyan lawyers said police had unlawfully detained and held incommunicado at least five people involved in the protests over the last 72 hours. A police spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. In remarks on Sunday, Ruto praised the protesters, saying they had been peaceful and that the government would engage with them on the way forward.

While protesters initially focused on the finance bill, their demands have broadened to demand Ruto quit. ORGANIC MOVEMENT

Political analysts say the protests represent a particular challenge for Ruto because, unlike previous demonstrations led by political parties, they lack an official leader who can be mollified through private negotiation and inducements. The finance bill aims to raise an additional $2.7 billion in taxes as part of an effort to tame a heavy debt load, with interest payments alone consuming 37% of annual revenue.

The government has already made some concessions, promising in amendments to the bill to scrap proposed new taxes on bread, cooking oil, car ownership and financial transactions. But that has not been enough to satisfy protesters, who want the entire bill scrapped. On Tuesday afternoon, lawmakers will debate the amendments, which the finance ministry says would blow a 200 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.56 billion) hole in the 2024/25 budget, and compel the government to make spending cuts or raise taxes elsewhere.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)