Protests Erupt in Nairobi Over Proposed Finance Bill

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday to express their discontent with a proposed finance bill. The bill, if approved, is expected to escalate the cost of living for the citizens, as it introduces new taxes and hikes existing ones on a wide array of goods and services.

The protesters, sporting black T-shirts and using whistles and vuvuzelas, assembled near the Parliament building, adding physical weight to the online backlash that has been amplified through hashtags and TikTok videos. In addition to the street protests, lawmakers have been inundated with phone calls and text messages, urging them to scrap the bill.

Heavy-Handed Police Response

Law enforcement officers responded to the protests by employing tear gas and water cannons, swiftly taking demonstrators into custody. A coalition of human rights organizations stated that over 200 individuals, including journalists, were detained. The police, on the other hand, have refrained from disclosing the exact number of arrests made.