Fed Up Kenyans Join Banned Tax Protests

Kenyan opposition protesters have pressed ahead with planned demonstrations on Wednesday, defying a warning from police who called the protests illegal.

Officers have sprayed tear gas at protesters in various towns as the police chief says necessary measures must be taken to disperse them.

Protest organisers are calling for the scrapping of a new law which doubles fuel taxes and imposes a 1.5% housing levy on employees. For now it has been suspended by the high court in Nairobi, because of constitutional concerns.

But the government says the measure is necessary to fix debt repayment issues and create job opportunities for unemployed youth.

Last Friday, confrontations between opposition protesters and the police resulted in six deaths in multiple towns.

On Wednesday, major roads in the capital Nairobi as well as Kisii, Kisumu, and Nyeri are noticeably less busy, and videos online show blocked roads in several areas. Bus and taxi drivers have joined the demonstrations, expressing concerns about rising fuel costs.

Many businesses remain closed, and transportation has come to a standstill.

Source: BBC