Anti finance bill protests are ongoing in various parts of the country for a second day this week, calling on President William Ruto’s administration to withdraw in totality the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
Police have been forced to lob teargas to disperse protests around City Hall way and Parliament building cordoned off with heavy security.
Protest actions have spread beyond Nairobi, with demonstrations reported in Eldoret, Kisii, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Kisumu over the bill
The bill aims to generate Ksh 348 billion in additional revenue through tax hikes on various sectors, including Road Maintenance Levies and Export Levies.
In Eldoret, which is situated in President Ruto’s political backyard, hundreds of frustrated youths surged into the Central Business District (CBD) to voice their opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.
Presidential Aspirant Reuben Kigame while joining the protest in Eldoret has also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach, implying that the government’s actions are perceived as contradictory or ineffective in serving the people’s interests.
While expressing their fury, the demonstrators called on the legislators to halt the amendments and instead, drop the entire bill.
Residents of Kondele in Kisumu Have also staged demonstrations in protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024.