Kenyan news outlets and official government statements

Kenya Drops Finance Bill 2024 Tax Hikes Amid Protests, 335 Arrests

Jun 18, 2024, 10:47 AM

Protests erupted in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) against the Finance Bill 2024, leading to multiple arrests and clashes with police. Demonstrators, under hashtags #RejectTheFinanceBill and #OccupyParliament, opposed the proposed taxes on essential items like bread, cooking oil, and motor vehicles. Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, who chanted slogans against President William Ruto. Notable activists, including Boniface Mwangi, Hanifa Adan, and Njeri wa Migwi, were among those detained. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned the arrests and threatened legal action. Following public pressure, MPs dropped the contentious tax proposals, and the government announced the removal of most tax hikes from the bill. The protests saw 335 people arrested, with significant clashes occurring near Holy Family Basilica, Kimathi Street, and Nation Centre.