The streets of major towns in Kenya are now filled with crowds, chanting slogans against the 2024 Finance Bill.
As Members of Parliament are set to begin a debate on the contentious tax proposals, Kenyans in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Nyeri, Isiolo towns took to the streets early Thursday morning.
In Kisumu, youths gathered at the Kondele roundabout, carrying placards and blowing whistles in protest to the Finance Bill.
In Nairobi, a heavy police presence has been witnessed, with roads leading to parliament barricaded.
The protests occur amid calls for restrain by police, who have been asked to protect the protesters.
On Tuesday, Nairobi city played host to a major protest dubbed Occupy Parliament, as Kenyans compelled MPs to shoot down the Finance Bill.
What began as an online activism led the Kenya Kwanza government to make amendments to the Finance Bill, scrapping some of the contentious tax proposals.
The Bill was amended to remove the proposed 16 per cent VAT on bread, transportation of sugar, financial services, foreign exchange transactions as well as the 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax.
Additionally, there will be no increase in mobile money transfer fees, and Excise Duty on vegetable oil has also been removed.
In a response, President William Ruto states that the ongoing protests will not cripple the decision-making process by relevant institutions.
“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.
