Kenyan Protests Erupt Over Controversial Tax Reforms

Kenyan police fired live ammunition at hundreds of protesters attempting to breach Parliament House in Nairobi on Tuesday, injuring dozens, as protests against controversial tax reforms turned violent. Reports also suggested that some protesters were killed in the firing, amid clashes that erupted after lawmakers passed the contested bill after a third and final reading.

Kenyan Citizens Demand Accountability and Reject Burdensome Taxation

Chaos Erupts in Nairobi as Protesters Storm Parliament

Hundreds of protesters breached barricades around the Parliament of Kenya and stormed the complex where lawmakers were debating the proposals, as police fired live bullets. Amnesty International reported that "many were wounded" in the violence, and a Reuters correspondent witnessed at least five dead bodies. A paramedic, Vivian Achista, told Reuters that at least 10 people had been shot dead, while another paramedic, Richard Ngumo, said more than 50 people had been wounded.The scenes inside the Parliament were reminiscent of the January 6 attack on the United States Congress, with protesters trying to break down the doors to key chambers, stomping on flags, and waving banners. Lawmakers are understood to have fled to safety as the angry crowd surged in, with some reportedly scampering to underground tunnels beneath the buildings, while others fled in ambulances. Parts of the Parliament House appeared to have been set on fire, with footage on social media showing protesters stomping on furniture, tearing down flags, and breaking windows.

Kenyan Citizens Protest Burdensome Tax Reforms

The finance bill, which was introduced in Parliament earlier in May and debated intensely through last week, encompasses a wide range of tax reforms and increases, including new levies on monetised digital content creation, a 5 percent tax increase on digital payments, and a 16 percent value-added tax (VAT) on bread. Additionally, a 25 percent excise duty on raw and refined vegetable cooking oil produced domestically, a 2.75 percent additional income charge for salary earners enrolled in the country's national medical insurance plan, and a 2.5 percent annual tax on motor vehicles were also included.Protesters argue that these taxes, especially on essential items like bread and vegetable oil, will ultimately increase the overall cost of living for Kenyans, who are already struggling with rising food and living costs. They also express anger at the bill's provisions, which give Kenya's revenue authorities powers to enforce tax collection by accessing bank and mobile money accounts.

Government Attempts to Appease Protesters with Tax Rollbacks

In response to the protests, Parliament announced emergency amendments last Tuesday, rolling back the taxes on bread, oil, motor vehicles, and financial transactions, including mobile money payments. However, protesters were not placated, and demonstrations continued despite the arrests of more than 200 people on June 18. Many said they wanted the entire bill dropped, accusing the government of taxing them not to increase social amenities, but for corrupt reasons.

Politically Sensitive Reforms Divide Kenyan Government and Citizens

The bill is particularly painful for protesters because it comes amid rising food and living costs in Kenya, and in the wake of previous tax hikes in 2023. Demonstrators say that since the 2022 swearing-in of the government of President William Ruto, they've been increasingly taxed while public services have not noticeably improved.Ruto has justified the recent tax-hike proposals, saying they are necessary to pay off a public debt of 11.1 trillion Kenyan shillings ( billion) that the country is saddled with, much of it owed to China. The government is also trying to cobble up more funds to meet a 2024 revenue target of 3.3 trillion Kenyan shillings ( million).However, the opposition has accused the government of burdening Kenyans with these taxes, and the violence has raised concerns about Ruto's image as a democratic leader in East Africa. Young critics of the finance bill have vowed to mobilize, register, and vote out Ruto's cabinet in the 2027 elections, with some already calling for the president to step down.