On Friday, Kenyan police employed tear gas to disperse protesters marching against a new finance law that has doubled the fuel tax and introduced a housing levy for employees. Opposition leader Raila Odinga called for the protests to oppose tax increases that were imposed despite a court-ordered suspension, exacerbating the burden on citizens already grappling with high prices of essential commodities.
Footage aired on the privately owned television channel KTN News revealed scenes of motorists scrambling to turn around on a street in Mombasa engulfed in tear gas, while protesters fled on foot. In the capital city, Nairobi, more tear gas was fired as police attempted to disband demonstrators who had blocked sections of two roads. Local media outlet The Star reported that several protesters were arrested during the clashes.
Despite the protests, shops and businesses remained open in the main central business district. President William Ruto’s government contends that the tax hikes, expected to generate an additional 200 billion shillings ($1.42 billion) annually, are necessary to address mounting debt repayments and fund job creation initiatives.
While the police allowed the opposition’s main rally to proceed, they cautioned against the destruction of property and businesses. National police spokeswoman Resila Onyango did not immediately respond to requests for comments from Reuters.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga and other leaders from his Azimio coalition were scheduled to address a rally at Kamukunji ground in the capital, which holds historical significance as the site of fierce clashes between police and advocates for multiparty democracy 33 years ago on the same day.
Last week, the High Court suspended the implementation of the finance law. However, the government raised retail prices of petrol nonetheless, leading the opposition senator who filed the case to seek the imprisonment of the head of the energy sector regulator for contempt. The court will rule on the contempt application on Monday and provide further directions on the main lawsuit.
Earlier this year, thousands of Kenyans responded to Odinga’s calls for anti-government protests on Mondays and Thursdays, holding three rallies despite a government ban on demonstrations.
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