Youth-Led Protests Intensify as Kenyans Push Back Against New Tax Proposals

Thousands of young Kenyans poured into the streets of Nairobi and several major towns on Thursday, intensifying nationwide demonstrations against the government’s proposed tax increases in the 2024/25 Finance Bill. The protests paralysed the capital’s central business district as riot police on horseback deployed tear gas and water cannons to stop crowds advancing toward Parliament, where lawmakers debated the controversial legislation. The unrest came just two days after an earlier round of demonstrations forced the administration of President William Ruto to withdraw several unpopular proposals, but protesters say the concessions did not go far enough.
The bill initially proposed steep tax measures including a 2.75 percent income levy for the national health insurance scheme and higher taxes on vegetable oil and fuel—changes businesses warn will raise production costs and push up consumer prices. Though the government removed a 16 percent VAT on bread and an annual motor vehicle tax following internal consultations within the ruling coalition, demonstrators insisted on a full rejection of the bill. Many young people who took to the streets said they felt compelled to act on behalf of families already struggling with inflation and high taxes. Nineteen-year-old Ashley Mwai, who joined the protests for the first time, said the rising cost of living had pushed many to a breaking point. Small business owners echoed similar frustrations, saying additional taxes would make survival nearly impossible in a slowing economy.
The demonstrations—also seen in Eldoret, Garissa, and other towns—signal growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s fiscal direction. While President Ruto has reiterated that peaceful protests are a constitutional right, he has emphasized that state institutions must still carry out their mandates as the bill proceeds to a final vote next week. More than 200 protesters were arrested during Tuesday’s clashes but were later released. With lawmakers set to determine the future of the bill in the coming days, civic groups and youth-led movements have vowed to sustain pressure, insisting that the government rethink its approach to taxation and economic reform. As tensions build, the coming week is expected to be pivotal in shaping Kenya’s fiscal policy—and the public’s confidence in its leaders.