Thousands of predominantly young protesters took to the streets in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and across the country on Thursday, expressing their outrage at new tax proposals put forward by President William Ruto's administration in its annual budget legislation.
The demonstrations brought Nairobi's central business district to a halt as mounted riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons to control the crowd advancing towards the parliament buildings, where the finance bill was under discussion. The protesters, who initiated their demonstrations on Tuesday, are urging lawmakers to vote against the legislation, which they believe will place an undue burden on salaried Kenyans, entrepreneurs, and consumers.
They accuse Ruto of reneging on his promise to reduce taxes and lower living costs. The proposed new taxes include a 2.75% levy on income for the national medical insurance plan, along with increased taxes on vegetable oil and fuel, which would raise production costs and ultimately impact the consumer. Proposals to introduce a 16% value-added tax on bread and a new annual tax on motor vehicles were scrapped from the legislation on Tuesday following a meeting between Ruto and members of the ruling party.
However, those who protested on Thursday argue that these amendments do not go far enough and demand that legislators completely reject the budget legislation. Ashley Mwai, a 19-year-old, said: "Our parents have been taxed dry, yet there's no development to show for it. We reject any additional taxes and will stay on the streets for as long as it takes."
She added: "As much as I'm not earning an income yet, additional taxes will increase the prices of food and transport, making life unbearable for us young people." Meanwhile, Walter Mwangi, a 34 year old businessman, shared his struggles with the crippling effect of taxes on his consultancy business. He said: "We are sick and tired,".
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On Thursday, lawmakers were in the midst of debating and voting on the legislation in its second reading, with the third and final reading scheduled for next week. In the meantime, protesters attempted to break through a security cordon to reach parliament buildings, brandishing anti-government signs and chanting against Ruto. The president was attending a university event in the southeastern town of Garissa, where anti-government demonstrators lined the street leading to the venue.
In Eldoret town, the president's home turf, young people also took to the streets, telling reporters they felt deceived into voting for Ruto. Earlier in the week, Ruto acknowledged the protests as a constitutional right but insisted that government institutions must fulfil their duties.
In a recent statement, Ruto said: "We are a democratic country. Those who want to demonstrate it is their right, no problem. But decisions have to be made by institutions," asserting his belief in democracy and control of the executive. We will make decisions as an executive, take it to the legislature, people of Kenya will speak to it through public participation, others will subject it to court processes and that is how democracy works and I am a great believer in democracy," he elaborated.
The demonstration on Tuesday resulted in over 200 arrestees who were later released. The right to protest is integral to the Kenyan constitution although organisers must inform police beforehand. If there are no security concerns, protests are usually permitted. In previous anti-government protests in Nairobi, they've often faced violent police responses with past demonstrators reportedly fired upon by law enforcement.
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