Kenyan administration abandons portions of questionable tax legislation due to mass demonstrations.
In the scrapbook of abandoned tax increases, a proposed 16% value-added tax (VAT) on bread, along with taxes on cars, vegetable oil, and mobile money transfers, were under consideration, as per Kuria Kimani, head honcho of Kenya's Finance and National Planning Committee.
In a speech outside the State House in Nairobi, Kimani asserted, "When we initiated public feedback on the 2024 finance bill, we gave our word that this wouldn't be a dull exercise. We've heeded the public's voice."
The modifications to the finance bill were fueled by a "desire to safeguard Kenyans from escalating living expenses," Kimani elaborated.
Kenya's President, William Ruto, expressed his delight during a State House speech about the public scrutiny of the proposed finance bill and the recommendations birthed through public participation.
"The fact that the executive, legislature, judiciary, and various institutions in Kenya are active, that's something I'm extremely proud of, and I'm thrilled to be a part of Kenya," Ruto concluded.
Crowds took to the streets to demonstrate against the contentious bill, with over 210 individuals being taken into custody during a "peaceful gathering" outside parliament buildings in the capital, as per Defenders Coalition, a Kenyan human rights group.
This human rights organization denounced the Kenya National Police for attempting to "suppress dissent through excessive force and intimidation."
Police dispersed the crowd outside the Central Police Station with tear gas, as demonstrators congregated there to demand the release of the arrested protesters, as Faith Odhiambo, president of Kenya's Law Society Council, stated on social media.
"This is a new low for the @NPSOfficial_KE [National Police Service Kenya]. Our resolve remains unwavering, we must squash impunity," Odhiambo declared.
Reuters reportage from the scene depicted police utilizing tear gas and water cannons.
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The cancellation of the controversial tax bill sparked global discussions, with numerous international organizations expressing concern about the impact of tax hikes on the vulnerable population in Africa.
Despite the Kenyan administration's decision, the tax protests in Africa's economic powerhouse served as a stark reminder of the world's ongoing focus on economic equality and social justice issues.
