NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has scrapped several proposed tax increases following widespread public protests. The move comes after a controversial finance bill sparked outrage, prompting Kenyans to take to the streets and human rights groups to condemn police tactics.
The bill, which initially included a 16% value-added tax (VAT) on bread alongside levies on motor vehicles, vegetable oil, and mobile money transfers, faced fierce public opposition. Kenyans saw these measures as a burden on their already strained finances, particularly with rising living costs.
Responding to the public outcry, the government reversed course. “We listened to the views of Kenyans,” said Kuria Kimani, chairman of Kenya’s Finance and National Planning Committee. He emphasized the government’s commitment to genuine public participation in the legislative process, ensuring it’s not “an exercise in futility.”
President William Ruto also acknowledged the public’s voice. In a speech, he expressed his satisfaction with the active public engagement with the bill. He praised the functioning of Kenyan institutions, highlighting that “the executive is working, the legislature is working, the judiciary is working,” stating his pride in a nation where such checks and balances exist.
The protests against the bill were not without consequence. According to human rights group Defenders Coalition, over 210 people were arrested during a peaceful assembly outside parliament. The organization denounced the use of “excessive force and intimidation” by the Kenyan National Police to silence dissent.
Footage from Reuters confirmed these reports, showing police deploying tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators. The president of Kenya’s Law Society Council, Faith Odhiambo, condemned these actions on social media, vowing to “stamp out impunity.”
