Kenya: Over 300 Arrested in Protests Against Ruto Govt's Proposed Tax Hikes | Firstpost Africa

Kenya: Over 300 Arrested in Protests Against Ruto Govt's Proposed Tax Hikes | Firstpost Africa
Kenyans are out on the streets to protest the proposed new tax hikes under the Finance Bill 2024. Over 300 protesters have been arrested, while the authorities used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. Amidst the public outcry, Kenya’s government has scrapped some proposed taxes in this year's controversial finance bill, including a 16% levy on bread. Since coming to office in 2022, President William Ruto has introduced several new and unpopular taxes with the aim of eliminating the country’s national debt of nearly $80bn. However, critics fear the latest proposals will stifle economic growth and lead to job losses.
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Kenya | William Ruto | Tax Hike | Protests | Firstpost Africa | Alyson Le Grange | Africa | Global South | Geopolitics | Military Coup | Environment | Climate Change | Firstpost | News Live | World News | Latest News | Global News | International News | News | Trending News
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[@user-wq5fr3hs5f]

Kenyans to keep paying for his Private Jet...?? THE TRAVELERS ALL OVER THE WORLD..?

[@IamMathenge]

IMAGINE!!! WTF!!!

[@avrajsagoo5372]

600+ million we pay for uhuru kibaki used to get 170 million in health insuramce that just the beginning caretakers taxpayer pay for their luxury cars fuel insurance staff security why are taxpayer givin money to alreayd billionaires shameful

[@IamMathenge]

I AM KENYAN AND IT IS WORSE THAN IT SEEMS

[@edmunddianga8641]

Much worse

[@dorinewanyonyi116]

Traitors

[@victoryogo6023]

​@@dorinewanyonyi116 ata useme traitors are they wrong? Are they supposed to love what is not working? It's worse

[@yu.3806]

​@victoryogo6023 tell your people to be careful in 🇭🇹. I know a lot of them are innocent but your President is not

[@victoryogo6023]

@@yu.3806 our president is just a puppet I think USA government is running the show here plush IMF and world bank. We have no Ill intentions with Haiti

[@ngugipeter]

The "state house" is allocated billions, and despite this, the regime hires unconstitutional CASs who earn millions, while doctors are on strike due to low salaries and lack of medicine. The country faces the highest unemployment rate, yet the regime still proposes increasing taxes for private jet trips

[@victoryogo6023]

Actually the CASs are idiots they have no idea what to do they just wait for high salaries

[@Gary-kf3ze]

That guy is evil it time for the people military to remove him and get their money back from that thief 😡

[@ngeno360]

Ruto is not the problem. He's the solution Zoea the 5th

[@slimpickens01]

You can remove during the next election.

[@gangstergamer6236]

@@ngeno360 mbwa wewe

[@Critikize]

​​​@@ngeno360 So what solutions has he offered thick head? Is the cost of life escalating while he finances his luxurious lifestyle and travels with Kenyans taxes, yet borrowing for what cannot be seen? Don't chorus is if you don't know what hard work and productivity is. Your hero Ruto has one of the most dented profile of scandals and criminal accusation records. It's a villager in State House

[@Realmakos]

​@@ngeno360he's the solution kwa Choo yako.

[@faithkyle3489]

Ruto is American ally! He is serving his masters not Kenyan

[@kevinligusi3525]

You have zero clue what you are talking about ​@@jojobird5545

[@machelawili5473]

Hey faith get your facts right China has put us on a chokehold but his former govt and this over borrowed and you know that. Put feelings away and think logically

[@faithkyle3489]

@@machelawili5473 share with me the papers

[@user-tk6lc8zv9c]

​@@jojobird5545 Chinese debt is only a trillion Kenya shillings.

[@otc7171]

@@jojobird5545 Chinese deb is the least the biggest debt goes to imf China owns usa not kenya thats why aemrican manufacturing is in china and americans are in tents

[@davidmuiga4248]

People protest turned violent by law enforcement

[@diddiousdenali]

Ruto is a puppet he must go 👊🏾👊🏾

[@CliveGachugi-uu3px]

I am a Kenyan, Peaceful protest over bad government. Lord Intervene!! Gen Z we are tired of this presidency era!!

[@davieskamanda6622]

To be clear, Kenyans are not protesting because we don't want to pay taxes or because we want to rely on debt. We are picketing because the majority of the taxes we already pay are wasted by politicians in government through lavish expenditures, trips, allowances, etc. A lot of it is also stolen through corruption, which he is so reluctant to address, by the way, given that he had the Director of Public Prosecutions dismiss corruption cases against his friends. Also, the debt that is being repaid is money that he and his friends looted and stashed abroad, and some of it was spent during the campaigns. He was the Deputy President when money was being looted left, right, and center, and he did nothing.

[@wangui0011]

So well put. Thank you… he’s replacing the money they stole for 10 years. Straight!

[@ascot.reception]

Quite right.we are demanding for accountability

[@myzgod]

All African leaders so….thieves in suits

[@myrthapierre4965]

No wonder he's an ally of ariel henry!! He's a typical traditional haitian politician. This explains why his invaders are in Haiti. Thank you!

[@Justbarbara.B]

He targeted the poor with the hustler narrative, made a lot of promises, delivered none and has made the lives of Kenyans hell. Kenyans are tired 😩

[@FinestaGang]

Taxation on the people should be like a butterfly collecting nectar from flowers. The IMF should not be a governments finance minister

[@margaretkingori664]

Absolutely Absolutely Thanks

[@julesbutul3876]

The former president uhuru warned Kenyans about Ruto…

[@user-cn6pg4cc9k]

Uhuru was no better

[@julesbutul3876]

@@user-cn6pg4cc9k he was also not running to churches crying and pretending his a holy man’with uhuru what we saw is what we got..

[@user-cn6pg4cc9k]

@@julesbutul3876 Doesn't change the fact that he ran a murderous regime, stole a lot and drove us into more debt which much of it was stashed abroad I.e Eurobond -Pandora Papers.

[@t.danno3644]

​@@user-cn6pg4cc9katleast he heard our cries once in a while... n alwys consalted b4 he said anything

[@happyone5537]

​@@user-cn6pg4cc9k He was more human you cannot rubbish him.

[@user-jw8ek2jt3v]

Kenyans were just waiting on where to strike because they were already in full pain.

[@alexandermuema4266]

Kenya is an example that Prayers can't help Bad Governance 😅

[@dakim8]

Yeah...Depends on whose praying and whose preying...He was definitely preying.

[@matildaockotch9739]

No. Prayers can help. Read lssais10:1-7. God is watching

[@faithmwangi687]

​@@dakim8 💯

[@frediochweda5199]

We need good governance not to read bible for some magic to harpen​@matildaockotch9739

[@ngaiflorida9328]

Prayers can help. But people lied on God

[@stephennjenga7998]

Ruto must go

[@trey_e]

This ruto man is insane we as kenyans we don't want the bill there hasn't be any public participation on that thing..#No To FINANCE BILL✊️

[@nomxhosapekani7966]

Who in their normal mind increases Taxes on basic food like bread, why not tax all those with luxurious empty holiday homes in Kenya?

[@roselineanyango5008]

Manze na Always imemfanyia nini how can u tax sanitary towels jeeez he want gals to stop going to school.. president think deep

[@cosmopolitanape6969]

why they tax themselves?

[@belindaachieng8888]

a foolish greedy person

[@eliudlumwaji7897]

Pad's and diaper's too.

[@jacobaustin3562]

Sale taxes and property taxes are two different things

[@deejeyweezdom126]

ruto....very very useless ruler...who know nothing about leadership...i question his education level..

[@roselineanyango5008]

Nawaa hv been asking that too.how did he became Dr Ruto with which credentials. Jeeez does he hv like real advicers

[@felixmakinda7689]

@@roselineanyango5008 lol! Dr.? You can buy degrees nowadays.

[@slimpickens01]

So you elected a Ruler instead of a democratically elected President?

[@jaynewanjira3541]

Oh no, he is very educated with a bachelors degree or two and possibly a masters degree as well, but he is a greedy corrupt president it seems and i am shocked that's who is has become. He was there a long time ago when he and others were youths like the ones today when some of his peers were trying to get a dictator out of power so he knows how it feels like. But a few decades later he wants to do the same to the youths of today who could easily be his children in the young adult ages. He and his government want to over tax and introduce high taxes to a struggling Kenya which is ridiculous. Taxing sanitary towels, bread to the middle class that is already struggling is crazy. Kenya already borrowed money internationally and the president is already corrupt and eating and mishandling the money and now it wants to charge Kenyans for the debt it has gotten itself into. That is unacceptable. Ruto will become a one time president if he wont be given a vote of no confidence and kicked out of power. Watch!

[@johnadera3247]

Biden erected Kenyan president William Ruto against Kenyans will that's why Ruto is vengeful but we will deal with Ruto perpendicularly in 2027

[@teresiamusyimimusyimi5484]

Wachana na uongo “Ruto is giving a speech full of lies “ no common citizen was consulted about the taxes bill

[@user-rh8nw7xj6p]

This is very positive news coming from Kenya. The government has been trampling on her hapless docile citizens for far too long.

[@leewythaka8309]

Docile citizens? You don't know Kenya. We have protests and go slows almost every month

[@bellaolum9768]

Docile citizens 😅😅😅

[@rosam674]

You sure do not know Kenyans. The West has been trying to turn us into a puppet state because of our strategic location. We have been forced to fight for all our freedoms. The latest tax hikes are being imposed on us by the IMF. We don't want them because they will kill our economy. IMF will get paid back at the rate our economy can afford. They should not have given those politicians too much money knowing the limits the country could pay back.

[@WorldVibyez]

Did you just Call Kenyans Docile,😂 my Lord

[@beverlykabz5429]

Yes, kenyans have been rather docile for far too long. That is how their government grew horns.

[@DaxL_net]

There's no inflation where there is no oversupply of money. Kenya lacks basically everything but he's on overdrive to over-tax anything that moves an inch. There's no excess money in circulation that needs to be moped up. He needs to stimulate the economy and cut government grandiose overspending on luxury items like jet-setting lifestyle and purchasing of expensive cars.

[@martinndagaru1671]

what you are proposing is what a normal person with a brain would do. not these goons

[@Blablagerman]

Professor Iraki is absolutley right and it is valid for all so-called democracies worldwide. Governments in general must reduce waste and must work for the people and not for themselves or any other 3rd parties. They are wasting the money of the ordinary people who have many problems in their everyday life.

[@MeshackOugo-rk3rj]

People will rise ..... We shall rise... POWER TO THE PEOPLE

[@motwomatebe]

When you have a president who doesn't listen,so greed❤

[@annmariehill1555]

Looking at the slums in Kenya how will the poor people manage how long

[@josphinejackson7278]

There has never been public participation

[@jayjey7692]

REJECT FINANCE BILL 2024, IN TOTALITY!!!

[@prot6liv981]

I used to be a Ruto supporter but now I have zero faith in his leadership, the revolution will be televised

[@Liz-hd5vl]

Thanks for covering this we are suffering 😢😢😢😢😢😢.as Kenyans

[@Ericjunior7656]

He wants the money to continue wasting traveling the world.. We will not allow him...

[@molotovcocktail4207]

We call him Zakayo meaning Zacchaeus the tax collector of the bible😅

[@josephinelee6823]

Which PUBLIC PARTICIPATION?????? Will u stop lying Ruto/zakayo??? Stop lying for God's sake 🥺🥺🥺

[@lonewulfmo9128]

Ruto must go. Resist the 1%

[@Artburn360-Trojanhorse]

Actually less than 1

[@jacksongikaria5780]

zakayo taxing everything under the sun.REJECT FINANCE BILL 2024

[@terefefeyssa877]

Ruto went to Washington and be called a reliable Non NATO country. According to this narcissist, it is a success. He made an agreement, and He got also the advanced bullet-proof vehicles. Thst was a good weapon to supress public protest in Kenya. This is just the begning. Just one can watch what he can do. He is a traitor who betryed Kenya and Africa.

[@anthonyyawtwumasimensah197]

This man is just like Nana Addo here in Ghana 😅. Expensive Jets. Plenty Taxes. Armoured vehicles from Europe. If we don't get these people we'll suffer. Ghana is already broke but Kenya can still save itself, keep fighting.

[@terefefeyssa877]

@anthonyyawtwumasimensah197 : I didn't like Ghanaian leaders from some of his speech but I didn't expect somebody so low at this level from Ghana. Ghanaian shouldn't deserve this kind of low man.

[@Ken_W254]

How can you on this earth tax bread, diapers, women pads, edible oil while on the other side you are hiring expensive private jets flying allover the world? Ruto must go!!

[@shitotee9889]

The government should reduce their salaries and allowances. We as the citizens are overburdened #rejectfinancebill2024

[@jesusprotect1438]

Scraping taxation on; Bread, car ownership, vegetable oil, and sugar transportation, and foreign exchange transfer was just ADECOY LEAVING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM UN NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THIS NEED TO IGNITE REVOLUTION. TAWE MOVEMENT.

[@nginaable]

There is more than meets the eye.

[@dansonkago3190]

Absolutely right, Ruto ni mukora and cannot be trusted on anything

[@myrthapierre4965]

Meanwhile, he's busy solving Haiti's problems which is none of his business by invading the country. The Kenyans invaders are not welcome, sorry! Haitians are tired of politicians like Mr. ruto, they want to change this system, they are revolting; that's why abinader, ariel and elbe went to mr. ruto, their good friend, to asked for invasion to protect their interests; mr. ruto made deals with them. But, the Haitian population doesn't want any outsiders to interfere in their business and they can and want to solve their own problems. Haitian problems, Haitian solutions. The same gangs in suites ( the corrupt oligarchs + traditional politicians) who created the streets gangs asked for international invaders to kill the streets gangs that they created. That's what they systematically did: kill the young black men to profit the corrupt oligarchs gangs mafia; after couples years, the same thing happens. If want to destroy a tree, cut its roots, but, not the leaves. As long as those gangs oligarchs assassins are there, they'll create streets gangs to promote instability.

[@MrBaddiss27]

Come on Kenyans, Ruto needs more expensive belts and flights. Pay more tax

[@kensuccii]

Office of the deputy president was allocated 600m for renovations yet the cost of building it initially was 400m

[@user-fx9wi1xu5m]

Shame on this government, finished your first term move out of that office Rutoh we are tired of you. You're forcing things to happen shame on you

[@andrewillemse2031]

Power to the people ✊

[@user-sl5zl3nb3w]

Good to see my prof. X.N IRAKI, our president should listen to such brains.

[@kalamuwilliam8840]

The puppet must go

[@josephinechege7400]

We are very disappointed with Ruto

[@KINGGEORGE007]

Ruto is a sheep in a wolf,s clothing

[@wingblade9759]

Wolf in sheep clothing.

[@newcharge-k9s]

I can't afford bread

[@fatherhood_matters]

😂😂😂 the picture of the president is funny now, is there no better picture than that😂

[@divinahogamba]

😅😅😅😅anakaa mkufi

[@pete7289]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Stop losing focus. We are here for the Finance Bill.

[@susankahugu]

This is the best. You won't want to see the rest

[@divinahogamba]

@@susankahugu 😃😄😆😆

[@abubacarjallow]

Don't let nobody divided you United

[@fabionelmiguel]

Bro is trying to tax bread, what could go wrong 😂😂

[@africanchilduganda8549]

We love it when you bring African Academicians to discuss African Afairs. Plz keep it up

[@abdulhakeemmwai5875]

Talk about land reform that you want to award the government and take it away from the citizens

[@jonafena4639]

The Aviator pilot 😂😂😂😂.

[@sylvesterwanga7839]

A greedy leader who wants all for himself. This greediness by Ruto's administration.

[@Africaisthefuture-zh8bo]

RUTO MUST GOOOOOOOO

[@hetty7891]

He needs money to pay for the private jet he used in his trip to USA and also the china debt. He is doing the same thing Ghana president did 😂. Men with no vision

[@anthonyyawtwumasimensah197]

It's like they're dealing with the same person 😂.

[@abdulkadirkassim4806]

We miss u iyan njoroge

[@abubacarjallow]

Ruto work for your people

[@AnthonyMusau-rn2jw]

No member of public agreed with taxes hiking.In anycase we are rejecting it in totality

[@just.mana_ke]

Gen z rise🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪✊

[@gregoryharris8706]

Ruto embarks on extravagant spending and yet squeezing the Kenyans, there's a time to stop milking a cow.

[@loucadoida3327]

What is wrong with this President how can you increase taxes for bread ? Are you insane 😮

[@kithometv4473]

Is this a robbot or someone

[@WN_media]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🙌🙌 ata mimi naona ivo😅

[@AbisaeOketch]

This Ruto was a student of Botany...he thinks that we Kenyans are plants. I don't think this is how those who study Botany do behave. He talks too much thinking that he knows everything. He even advices his advicers. How can this fake brother of Jesus spend 18.18 billion on travelling but tax even sanitary towels

[@agnessirungu1623]

Am shocked by Rutos dramatic change . What came over him really? Unbelievable. Am very disappointed in him. Now hes sending kdf to Haiti and yemen. Again he has jumped to Russia Ukraine war who knows he will want to send kenyan soldiers to Ukraine. 🥵😡

[@geraldoluoch7804]

Nothing came over him. This is whom he truly is. And we were warned!

[@beatricekhangayi-qh5ny]

He is the chief ruto

[@machelawili5473]

More of thief

[@YKZblood]

Power to the people

[@mindedup7548]

#rejectfinancebill2024. this man ruto is working for imf

[@juliusokwemba6030]

The thief is looking for money to travel

[@jacklineachieng1131]

Confused human being in office

[@Ben-xf3qe]

You have to fight ❤❤

[@user-mb8cv1or2p]

Freedom of speech Kenyans, we are no longer under slavery

[@litfanswagacii2127]

AI reporter reporting Kenyan news am done 🤺

[@serioustalkwithbhudax]

How did Ruto become president? Kenya keep the fight. ✊🏾

[@mwaliinromekenyaitaly2820]

The problem with this man auto is that he's not after the welfare of the kenyan people but to fund his air host trips around the globe.

[@LordOfDarkWorlds1166]

Increase job offers,increase food and water supplies and decreasing the price/tax inflation rates in some degrees by taking a hold,control and survey the inflation rates in stores,markets and malls alike.

[@martinndagaru1671]

how and every investor has fled?

[@LordOfDarkWorlds1166]

@@martinndagaru1671 Let me guess that they have joined the Rebels or they simply run away in avoidant?

[@daveondiekaaron2204]

REVOLUTION HAS JUST STARTED... PEOPLE'S POWER ✨💪

[@sharonkhan1018]

Power to the people!!!!😮

[@hakiiki1767]

Am proud of u kenyans

[@myzgod]

Insane!!!! Why don’t they tax his trips abroad instead. Thieves in suits!!

[@khadijaomar6730]

We kenyans we reject the finance bill..wicked president ever

[@PeterMwansa-qw1ut]

The result of associating with the western

[@Oreso7623]

We just need to address expenditure and wastage!!

[@keithlewis7820]

Ruto it is time to be real with your people if you want to destroy yourself no problem but you cannot destroy the people to please outside forces think Ruto think the people must come first

[@tenawobebetwo3917]

Bread, vegetable oil, and sugar are especially totally unacceptable! The basic needs of all people!

[@naomiawando3754]

Being a Kenyan at this time is very depressing...life is hard, no jobs...it's crazy

[@eltactico9845]

The guy has been travelling like no ones business. What was he doing in the G7 summit?

[@AbdulNasiru-wd2dm]

We do africa continuously vote foolish people into office

[@rosam674]

Africans are not in charge of their elections. The West has infiltrated our voting systems and freely impose puppets on us. They pushed us to adopt electronic voting, sold us the equipment, and kept the servers in Europe. The tallies from polling stations are transmitted to the servers. Who do you think counts the votes and delivers the final results? Certainly not the people. Western democracy is the biggest lie sold to Africans. We need to abandon it if we want good leaders.

[@jesusprotect1438]

Kenya police are brutal yet are going to Haiti, they will millions of Haitians.

[@wendykyler8152]

Which public participation?? His not only a greedy man but alsso a liar i mean to think about his wife getting part of our taxes n people are starving its just a joke...

[@AlexMiheso-cq4ck]

So painfull

[@LaylaIbrahim-bl4nr]

I hope that in future they will vote for the good of the country and not for their tribes. I love this country. Best of luck

[@charlesmathenge528]

Money transfer...Mpesa(local money transfer )not exactly foreign although this may be affected too because we use this mpesa to send/ receive money abroad too

[@patriciamushila3233]

Ruto is taxing everything, surely....sad indeed

[@nightallen4704]

Wow! Kenyans you are brave...plz come to Uganda too...

[@jameschoi4746]

power to the people

[@victoryogo6023]

He is a real explanation of a wolf in sheep clothing, he gives good speeches to the rest of the world and his impact in his country is zero the real Marie Antoinette but a male version

[@marydanson6154]

Kenya is not The Kenya we Knew.And this man called Ruto is not a leader at all,he is a luxurian.

[@douglasrobert3535]

Where was the public participating 😂

[@Cirus122]

Please keep covering it