Kenyans protest against the new Finance Bill II VYGR

Kenya: Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is in complete disarray as police use water cannons and tear gas to bring down protesters who took to the streets to express their aversion to the proposed tax hikes. These youth-led protests, which started last week, were largely peaceful. President William Ruto stated over the weekend that he was ready to speak with the protesters. However, things took an extreme turn for the worse on Tuesday afternoon as demonstrators started to hurl stones at the police and push back against barricades in an attempt to get to the parliament building, which was sealed off by the police in riot gear.

The Details of the Protests

Following the firing of live ammunition at protesters by Kenyan police, at least five people were shot dead and around thirty-one injured.
Protesters broke into Kenya's parliament and set it on fire. The ceremonial mace was also stolen.

The Nairobi governor's City Hall office was also set on fire. Additionally, Eldoret, Ruto's hometown in western Kenya, saw police use tear gas as protestors crowded the streets and many businesses shuttered for fear of violence.

The Finance Bill

The anti-tax demonstration was sparked by the Finance Bill, which intends to tax an additional $2.7 billion in an attempt to reduce Kenya's enormous debt load, of which interest payments alone account for 37% of annual income.

The bill was enacted on Tuesday by parliamentarians who support President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance, despite widespread demonstrations. The government has agreed to make some concessions by considering scrapping the proposed new taxes on bank transactions, cooking oil, bread, and car ownership. However, protestors feel that is insufficient. While the initial emphasis was on the financial bill, the protestors have now expanded their demands to include President Ruto’s resignation.

Kenyans have been facing several economic setbacks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's aftereffects, the conflict in Ukraine, two consecutive years of drought, and currency depreciation. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Chief, advises Kenyan security forces to "exercise restraint" and asks protesters to demonstrate peacefully.

Inputs: Agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies