NAIROBI, Kenya- A wave of outrage has swept across Kenya as citizens unite in a multifaceted protest against the controversial Financial Bill 2024.
Dubbed punitive and regressive, the bill has sparked widespread dissent, leading to an unprecedented campaign targeting Members of Parliament, international organizations, and even the President himself.
This is despite the Kenya Kwanza administration axing a section of the contentious tax proposals.
In a show of digital defiance, Kenyans have inundated MPs and celebrities suspected of supporting the bill with a barrage of messages, calls, and emails, urging them to reject the bill.
Social media platforms have been ablaze with posts calling out specific lawmakers and urging the public to join the pressure campaign.
Hashtags such as #RejectFinancialBill2024, #RevolutionKE and #OccupyParliament have been trending, reflecting the collective fury of a nation unwilling to accept what many see as economic oppression.
The Data Protection Commission has issued a statement warning against sharing of leaders’ telephone numbers and other private details.
Internationally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not been spared the wrath of disgruntled Kenyans.
Many have taken to email, bombarding the organization with pleas to withdraw its alleged support for the bill.
A section of Kenyan leaders have openly blamed the IMF for the proposed tax hikes, accusing it of pushing for policies that disproportionately burden the already struggling populace.
At the center of the storm is President William Ruto, whose phone number was among those circulated by protest organizers.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ruto remains steadfast in his call for increased taxes, which he claims are necessary to pull Kenya out of its mounting debt crisis.
However, this stance has only fueled the flames of public anger, with critics highlighting the President’s role in exacerbating the nation’s financial woes through overborrowing and fiscal mismanagement.
Ruto’s administration has been dogged by accusations of rampant corruption and wasteful expenditure.
Critics argue that the government’s insistence on raising taxes is a diversion from its failure to curtail graft and reduce unnecessary spending.
The President’s numerous luxurious trips abroad, often using hired jets, have come under particular scrutiny, symbolizing the disconnect between the leadership’s opulence and the citizens’ struggles.
“Why should we pay more taxes when our money is being squandered?” Meshack Maingi, a Nairobi resident asked.
“We’re being punished for the government’s mistakes and corruption.”
The Financial Bill 2024 proposes a range of tax increases that many Kenyans deem draconian.
Protests have not been confined to the digital realm.
In Nairobi and Mombasa cities, demonstrations have erupted, with citizens taking to the streets.
Placard-waving protesters have marched, demanding a reversal of the proposed tax hikes and greater accountability from the leaders.
The protests have been largely peaceful, but tensions are high, and there are fears that continued government intransigence could lead to more significant unrest.
