Under U-turn, Kenya’s scrapped tax levies may return, renewing fears of unrest

NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya’s treasury minister on Monday hinted at the possibility of reintroducing recently versions of highly controversial taxes that sparked widespread protests across the country just weeks ago.

Speaking to local media, John Mbadi said the government is exploring various avenues to address a growing budget deficit and enhance revenue collection, especially with the withdrawal of the 2024 Finance Bill after weeks of violent protests that led to the loss of dozens of lives.

“We have lined up 47 amendments, among them the eco-levy. We will however remove the ban on sanitary pads and other sensitive items,” he said.

A letter dated this Monday, written by “Concerned Kenyans,” has been trending on social media in the East African nation, which boasts the biggest economy in the region, but the letter warns of renewed protests over the proposed taxes.

A section of the letter said the “Finance Bill 2024 was rejected in totality! As such, no single amendment must ever be initiated on any of those clauses.”

“We want to assure this regime that we’ll be on the streets like we’ve never been before this time, it’ll be a total shutdown,” the letter added.

The taxes in the Finance Bill 2024 triggered a wave of demonstrations in June and July, leading to the death of at least 50 people, according to authorities.

The government’s U-turn has sparked concerns among civil society groups and opposition leaders, who warn that reintroducing these unpopular taxes could lead to renewed unrest and further erode public trust in the administration.

They argue that the government should focus on alternative revenue-generating measures and prioritize spending cuts instead of burdening the public with additional taxes.

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