Nationwide Anti-Finance Bill Protests Erupt in Major Towns

As Members of Parliament are set to debate the controversial tax bill proposals, Kenyans in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, and Nyeri took to the streets early Thursday morning. The main streets of these towns are now filled with crowds chanting slogans against the 2024 Finance Bill.

In Nairobi, there is a significant police presence, with roads leading to parliament being blocked. In Kisumu, youths gathered at the Kondele and other various places, carrying posters and blowing whistles in protest of the Finance Bill 2024. Despite the heavy police presence in Nairobi, authorities have been urged to protect the protesters and exercise restraint.

On Tuesday, Nairobi hosted a major protest called ‘Occupy Parliament’, where Kenyans urged MPs to reject the Finance Bill. The initial online activism prompted the Kenya Kwanza government to amend the Finance Bill, removing several contentious tax proposals.

The amendments included the removal of a proposed 16 percent VAT on bread, transportation of sugar, financial services, foreign exchange transactions, and a 2.5 percent Motor Vehicle Tax. Additionally, there will be no increase in mobile money transfer fees, and the Excise Duty on vegetable oil has been eliminated.

President William Ruto responds, stating that the ongoing protests will not impede important institutions' decision-making processes.

“Civil society is free to do what they want to do; those who want to demonstrate, they can demonstrate, it is their right, no problem, but decisions have to be made by institutions,” said Ruto on Wednesday.