Kenyan security forces dispersed thousands of demonstrators in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday, amid marches across the country to denounce the government's plans to collect $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit.
The police sought to break up the demonstration in Nairobi's central business district and prevented the protesters from reaching Parliament, where lawmakers today discussed a draft finance bill in its second reading.
Protesters say the tax increases will hurt the economy and raise the cost of living for Kenyans who are already struggling to make ends meet.
A parliamentary committee on Tuesday urged the government to cancel some of the new taxes proposed in the draft finance law, including new taxes on car ownership, bread, cooking oil and financial transactions.
The International Monetary Fund urged the government to increase revenues in the 2024/25 budget to reduce borrowing.
Follow the latest news on Google News
