In a display of discontent, residents of Nairobi, Kenya, took to the streets on Tuesday to voice their opposition to a new finance bill that proposes increased taxes on essential goods. As the crowd marched towards parliament, clashes erupted, leading to the arrest of 11 protesters and the deployment of tear gas by Kenyan police.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce or raise taxes on various items, including fuel, food, beauty products, cryptocurrencies, and social media influencers. Critics argue that these measures will exacerbate economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
The demonstration, dubbed “sita sita” (six six), signifies its occurrence on the sixth day of the sixth month. Chanting slogans such as “Down down finance bill,” protesters expressed their frustration and accused the government of subjecting them to hunger.
Rodgers Obogi, a 23-year-old unemployed protester, voiced the sentiments of many participants: “We are demonstrating to express our frustrations, people need money, and that money is being taxed twice.”
President William Ruto aims to replenish the government’s depleted funds and revitalize the heavily indebted economy inherited from his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, who prioritized large-scale infrastructure projects. Ruto’s proposed budget for 2023/24 amounts to 3.6 trillion shillings ($26.2 billion), with the anticipated tax increases projected to generate 289 billion shillings.
Critics accuse Ruto of reneging on promises made during the August 2022 election campaign, where he presented himself as the champion of impoverished Kenyans and pledged to improve their economic well-being.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Azimio party strongly opposes the finance bill, claiming that Ruto’s government aims to extract billions from the pockets of the country’s poorest citizens while expecting them to celebrate the outcome.
Amidst the protests, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released a report revealing that 12 individuals were killed by police during similar demonstrations in March. While government figures indicate three casualties, including a policeman, human rights organizations shed light on the gravity of the situation.
As the debate on the finance bill unfolds in parliament, tensions remain high, with citizens demanding economic relief and denouncing what they perceive as unjust taxation measures imposed by the government.