Kenyan riot police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Nairobi on Thursday as hundreds of demonstrators marched through cities across the country to rally against the government’s plans to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit.
Clouds of tear gas filled the streets of the capital’s financial district as officers attempted to block the path of protesters trying to reach the parliament buildings.
In other major towns like Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, demonstrators waved placards with slogans such as “We say no to economic dictatorship” as they called for lawmakers to drop the controversial finance bill.
Protesters say the proposed tax hikes on items like car ownership, bread, cooking oil and financial transactions will further strain Kenyans already struggling with a high cost of living.
A parliamentary panel had urged the government on Tuesday to scrap some of the new levies outlined in the bill.
