IN a show of defiance against newly imposed taxes, more than 20 anti-government protesters were arrested in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Friday. Similar demonstrations took place in other parts of the country, including the coastal city of Mombasa and the lakeside city of Kisumu, where the opposition enjoys strong support. The police resorted to dispersing the protesters with tear gas canisters as they lit bonfires and blocked major roads.
Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei confirmed the arrests, stating, ‘More than 20 people had been arrested by midday.’ However, he did not disclose the specific charges they will face. The opposition had organised the protests to express their dissatisfaction with the newly imposed taxes on petroleum products, salaried workers, and businesses.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga had previously called for ‘civil disobedience,’ urging his followers not to comply with the new tax regulations. Although a court has temporarily suspended the implementation of the law, pending the hearing of a case filed by an opposition senator challenging its legality, the government has already enforced the tax on petroleum products.
Despite ongoing demonstrations being deemed illegal by the police, opposition supporters are expected to gather for a rally in Nairobi, where Odinga intends to announce further measures against the new taxes. The authorities have stated that the rally itself is legal. Nevertheless, several businesses in major cities decided to close their doors in response to the protests.
This latest wave of demonstrations follows a series of weekly protests held by the opposition in March, which resulted in casualties and significant damage to property and businesses. At that time, President William Ruto extended an invitation to the opposition for dialogue, leading to the suspension of the protests. However, the opposition accused the government of dishonesty during the talks and subsequently vowed to resume their demonstrations.
(with AP)
