7/03/24
Citizens Take a Stand
Author: Arjun Khanna
Editor(s): David Sun
The country of Kenya on the East Coast of Africa is currently seeing nationwide protests due to a proposed tax increase. Several Kenyan citizens died during the movement, which essentially shut down the country in its entirety for one day. The deadly protests all began with a proposed tax increase by the Kenyan government.
The bill was intended to add a 16% VAT (value-added tax) on the price of bread, as well as to increase taxes on motor vehicles, oil, and other common goods. With this news, many Kenyan citizens decided to take a stand, which culminated in a “total shutdown” of the country. Protesters fought under the slogan of “7 days of rage” where they took to the streets of Kenya with signs, which unfortunately culminated in the deaths of five citizens, along with thirty-one others who were believed to have suffered wounds from gunshots during altercations with the police. Kenyan President William Ruto took to address the nation, with which he said that the total shutdown of Kenya was a “critical turning point” in the Finance and National Planning Committee’s decision to revoke the bill. President Ruto stated that he was happy with how the citizens took action with their “feeling, their ideas, and their suggestions.” Although the protests in Kenya certainly took a fateful turn for the worst, they captured the world’s attention and ultimately highlighted the empathy of the Kenyan government to take into consideration the true implications of the new Finance Bill on their citizens.