Police in Nairobi fired tear gas on Friday to break up a protest by traders angered by a recent increase in import duties, according to Al Jazeera. The demonstration took place in the central business district, where crowds gathered to voice their opposition to the tax changes.
Multiple outlets, including Reuters and Kenyans.co.ke, reported that the police used tear gas to disperse the traders. The protesters accuse the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) of imposing punitive taxes on goods, which they say are hurting their businesses.
The Friday action was not a one-off event. According to the Star, a Kenyan newspaper, traders have vowed to hold protests every Friday until the KRA addresses their tax concerns. The Standard also reported that the demonstration amounted to a shutdown of trading activity in the city center, as shopkeepers and market vendors joined the action.
The specific details of the import duty hike were not provided in the initial reports. However, the coordinated coverage from Al Jazeera, Reuters, and local Kenyan media indicates the protest was significant enough to draw international attention and disrupt normal business operations in the capital.
The use of tear gas marks an escalation in the dispute between the trading community and the tax authority. The traders' commitment to weekly demonstrations suggests the issue is unlikely to be resolved quickly. All eyes will now be on the KRA to see if it offers any concessions to the business community in the coming days to prevent further disruptions in Nairobi.
