Photo : AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP
IN BRIEF
Shilpa Joseph
Kenya: Protests against tax hikes
On 18 June, more than 200 protesters were arrested in Kenya after the proposed tax hikes in a finance bill. The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors. Since 2022, President William Ruto implemented several harsh taxes to eliminate the national debt of nearly USD 80 billion. However, at a press meeting Kuria Kimani, chairman of the parliamentary finance committee announced the scraping off of the proposals in response to the protests against increasing cost of living of the people. He announced the reversal of the eco tax on packaging, plastics and tyres and on key goods such as nappies, sanitary towels, computers and mobile phones. Additionally, a 1.5 per cent monthly worker housing levy has been introduced. The 2.5 per cent motor vehicle annual tax that was to be placed on insurance were also amended after the demonstrations. (“More than 200 arrested in Kenya protests over proposed tax hikes in finance bill,” Africanews, 18 June 2024; “Kenya finance bill 2024: Bread and other tax proposals axed amid public outcry,” BBC, 18 June 2024)