Kenya’s lawmakers passed a contentious finance bill on Tuesday amidst chaotic scenes in the capital city of Nairobi. Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets around Parliament, protesting against tax increases that critics argue will burden millions of people.
The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and the sound of live fire could be heard. Two individuals were seen lying wounded on the ground as tensions escalated.
The debate over the bill has rocked Kenya, an economic powerhouse in East Africa known for its stability. Last week, protests erupted across the country, resulting in one death and 200 injuries, according to Amnesty International.
Prior to Tuesday’s demonstration, several activists critical of the bill were reportedly abducted, sparking outrage from the Law Society of Kenya. The abductors, believed to be intelligence officers, remain unidentified. The Chief Justice of Kenya, Martha Koome, condemned the abductions as a direct assault on the rule of law.
The bill, introduced by President William Ruto’s government in May, aims to raise revenue and limit borrowing in a debt-ridden economy. However, Kenyans have criticized the legislation for imposing new taxes and increasing existing ones on essential goods and services.
Opposition members of Parliament rejected the bill in its entirety, while protesters draped in the Kenyan flag gathered outside Parliament as lawmakers debated and passed the amendments.
Young activists have spearheaded the protests, utilizing social media platforms to mobilize a leaderless movement focused on economic security and social equality. They have organized demonstrations, translated the bill into local languages, and engaged in various forms of civil disobedience to voice their discontent.
Despite government officials attributing the protests to foreign interference and dismissing demonstrators as privileged youth, the activists remain resolute in their demand for the rejection of the finance bill.
As tensions continue to rise, protesters vow to persist in their efforts to challenge the government’s decision, signaling a growing movement for change in Kenya.
