Mass Protests Erupt Across Kenya Over Proposed $2.7 Billion Tax Hike

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through Kenyan cities to protest a $2.7 billion tax hike aimed at reducing the budget deficit. They argue the increase will raise living costs for struggling citizens. The protests, joined by people from multiple cities, faced police resistance and prompted calls to scrap the new finance bill.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched through cities across Kenya on Thursday to protest against plans to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Protesters say the tax rises will hurt the economy and raise the cost of living for Kenyans who are already struggling to make ends meet.

A Kenyan parliamentary panel on Tuesday urged the government to scrap some new taxes proposed in its finance bill, including new ones on car ownership, bread, cooking oil, and financial transactions. Riot police fired tear gas to disburse pockets of protesters in the financial district of the capital Nairobi and blocked their path to parliament.

Demonstrators in towns and cities including Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu called for lawmakers to drop the bill and waved placards with slogans like "We say no to economic dictatorship". The International Monetary Fund has urged the government to increase revenues in its 2024/25 budget to reduce state borrowing.

Lawmakers were debating the bill on Thursday in its second reading before parliament. President William Ruto was elected almost two years ago on a platform to help Kenya's working poor, but has faced repeated anti-tax protests. He has defended the tax increases, saying the government need to reduce its reliance on borrowing.

Hundreds of people had already taken to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the bill, in the biggest backlash against Ruto's government since protests in July last year, when rights groups said at least nine people were killed.

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