In Kenya, police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse protesters near the parliament in Nairobi on Thursday. The demonstrators were rallying against proposed tax hikes that many fear will exacerbate the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Hundreds took to the streets to oppose a finance bill that proposes new taxes and levies, significantly increasing the price of basic goods.
The protests have drawn particular support from younger Kenyans, a demographic that typically exhibits lower political engagement. This time, however, they are at the forefront, driven by concerns over proposed taxes on digital content creation, a domain they dominate. Younger Kenyans have witnessed their parents’ financial struggles under what they perceive as an insensitive government, leading to widespread discontent.
The presidency announced on Tuesday the removal of proposed levies on bread purchases, car ownership, and financial and mobile services. However, this decision prompted warnings from the treasury about a resulting 200-billion-shilling ($1.5bn) shortfall, necessitating an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the budget gap. Critics argue that these measures will further elevate the cost of living in a country already grappling with high inflation.
Kenya’s reliance on diesel for transport, power generation, and agriculture, along with the widespread use of kerosene for cooking and lighting in many households, means that increased fuel prices will significantly impact everyday life. Despite the largely peaceful nature of the protests, police fired tear gas, and a consortium of lobby groups, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Amnesty Kenya, reported at least 335 arrests.
The tax increases were initially projected to raise 346.7 billion shillings ($2.7bn), equivalent to 1.9% of GDP, aiming to reduce the budget deficit from 5.7% to 3.3% of GDP. However, President William Ruto’s cash-strapped government made concessions on Tuesday after young protesters clashed with police. While some tax increases will proceed, the government defends these hikes as necessary to fill its coffers and reduce reliance on external borrowing.
Protesters have planned demonstrations across Kenya, including in the opposition strongholds of Mombasa and Kisumu. In Nairobi, lawmakers debated the bill in its second reading on Thursday, with a final version required to pass before June 30. Authorities blocked several roads near parliament and deployed a heavy police presence.
Reporting from Nairobi’s city center, Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb noted that demonstrators outnumbered the police in the streets. The protests, largely organized and mobilized on social media, especially TikTok, saw participants wearing black clothes or stylish attire, waving signs, and chanting slogans such as “Do Not Force The Taxes On Us” and “Ruto must go.”
Protester Zaha Indimuli highlighted the role of social media in mobilizing and educating young people about the reasons for their discontent. Many protesters, demonstrating for the first time, carried signs and chanted slogans, expressing their frustration with the government’s tax proposals.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, the demonstrators faced obstacles, such as water cannon blockades by the police. Organizer Hanifa Farsafi, using social media, urged protesters to continue their march despite arrests. Over 200 young protesters were detained, although many were released after lawyers intervened.
Protesters have continued to leverage social media to share messages, pictures, and videos, making it difficult for authorities to target the movement’s leaders. Unlike previous politically-driven protests, this one has been marked by a lack of looting, destruction, or stone-throwing, focusing instead on clear demands and nonviolent demonstration.
The presidency appeared to respond to the protests by announcing the removal of some controversial provisions from the finance bill, including a proposed 16% value-added tax (VAT) on bread. Kuria Kimani, the chairman of the parliamentary finance committee, stated that changes to the bill were driven by the need to protect Kenyans from an increased cost of living.
However, other proposed taxes on cooking oil, mobile money services, and motor vehicles remain, raising concerns about their impact on the insurance industry and everyday expenses. MPs are expected to vote on the revised bill next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the opposition, which did not participate in the demonstrations, calls for the withdrawal of the entire bill, labeling it “punitive.”
Protesters have used hashtags like “#OccupyParliament” and “#RejectFinanceBill2024” to pressure MPs and rally support. Social media efforts have included sharing MPs’ phone numbers with messages urging them to reject the bill, leading to thousands of messages and phone spam for some legislators. Local media have amplified these online conversations, increasing the visibility of the protest and its issues.
Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has expressed pride in the youth-led protest, which has been marked by peaceful demonstration and social media coordination. Political commentator Mutuma Mathiu remarked that these events have shifted the dynamics of Kenyan politics, with a new generation finding its voice.
Professor Kivutha Kibwana and former Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga have both warned of the dangers of a government declaring war on its youth, emphasizing the global commonality of youth-led uprisings against ruling classes. Despite threats of social media restrictions by the government, protesters remain undeterred, vowing to continue their fight for change.
Ms. Indimuli summarized the sentiment from the sidelines of Tuesday’s demonstration: “We are not scared, we are not moved, and this is only the beginning of the revolution. We are coming, we are many, and in good numbers.”
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