{"id":80702,"date":"2024-06-25T09:57:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T09:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/25\/protests-driven-by-younger-people-aim-to-push-kenya-to-scrap-tax-rises\/"},"modified":"2024-06-25T09:57:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T09:57:11","slug":"protests-driven-by-younger-people-aim-to-push-kenya-to-scrap-tax-rises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/25\/protests-driven-by-younger-people-aim-to-push-kenya-to-scrap-tax-rises\/","title":{"rendered":"Protests Driven by Younger People Aim to Push Kenya to Scrap Tax Rises"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1050\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/06\/25\/multimedia\/25kenya-tax-protests-lftj\/25kenya-tax-protests-lftj-facebookJumbo.jpg?fit=1050,550&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Protests Driven by Younger People Aim to Push Kenya to Scrap Tax Rises\" title=\"Protests Driven by Younger People Aim to Push Kenya to Scrap Tax Rises\" \/><\/div><p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Tuesday in a movement led by younger people that demonstrators hope will compel the government to scrap a finance bill that critics say would make life onerous for millions of people who are struggling to make ends meet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The debate over the bill has shaken Kenya, an East African economic powerhouse of 54 million people that has long been an anchor of stability in a deeply tumultuous region. As thousands <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/06\/18\/world\/africa\/kenya-protests-proposed-tax-hikes.html\" title=\"\">protested over the tax increases<\/a> across the country last week, at least one person was killed and 200 others were injured, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amnestykenya.org\/state-at-a-crossroads-as-it-faces-fearless-firm-gen-z-protestors\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">according to Amnesty International<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Before Tuesday\u2019s demonstration, several activists who are <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bonifacemwangi\/status\/1805434764280619475\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">prominent critics<\/a> of the bill <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LawSocietyofKe\/status\/1805445178938868101\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">were abducted<\/a>, according to the Law Society of Kenya. The abductors\u2019 identities were not publicly known, but some were <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FaithOdhiambo8\/status\/1805210831698702701\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">believed to be intelligence officers<\/a>, said the Law Society\u2019s president, Faith Odhiambo. The police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Lawmakers in Parliament are set to debate and vote on proposed amendments to the bill on Tuesday. President William Ruto\u2019s governing alliance has enough votes to pass it, although opposition leaders have rejected the measure in its totality. Once the bill has parliamentary approval, Mr. Ruto can sign it into law or send it back for amendments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">As demonstrators packed the streets last week, lawmakers vowed to withdraw some taxes, including on bread, cooking oil and cars. But protesters have denounced other taxes, including on imported goods, and have urged the government to abandon the draft legislation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cThe audacity to raise taxes during these hard economic times, not listen to our concerns and then mistreat us shows how tone deaf the government is and how they don\u2019t care about us,\u201d said Kasmuel McOure, 26, a musician who was participating in Tuesday\u2019s protests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Observers say that the protests have been <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/kenya-protests-gen-z-shows-the-power-of-digital-activism-driving-change-from-screens-to-the-streets-233065\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">guided by younger people<\/a> who have used social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to initiate a leaderless movement that has galvanized the nation. Young Kenyans say that their movement transcends the limitations of class, tribe or race, and that it is focused on attaining economic security and social equality for millions for whom that has remained a distant dream.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Besides organizing protests in almost two dozen counties across Kenya, young people have translated the bill into <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MuchiriiMike\/status\/1803677053385842769\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">several local languages<\/a> and <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NdemoKelvin\/status\/1801178373634371998\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">used the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT<\/a> to simplify it. They have employed crowdsourcing to collect the contact information for lawmakers and urged constituents to call them about the bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">They have also confronted officials at public gatherings and in houses of worship to show their displeasure, and have carried coffins to the offices of some lawmakers who support the legislation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">On Saturday night, they called on nightclubs across Kenya to play the national anthem to rally against the finance bill, and on Sunday they <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-star.co.ke\/news\/2024-06-23-cheers-at-holy-family-basilica-as-bold-youth-walks-to-pulpit-chants-reject-finance-bill\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">urged church leaders and congregants<\/a> to <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BravinYuri\/status\/1804808460200038791\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">voice their rejection<\/a> of the measure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cThe politicians have for too long underestimated our power, energy and passion,\u201d said Muchiri Mike, a 25-year-old content creator. \u201cWe are now asking questions and demanding answers, and they are surprised by this revolution happening at their doorsteps.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Government officials have blamed <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MwauraIsaac1\/status\/1804604493671313803\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">unspecified foreign powers<\/a> for stirring up the protests. And Parliament\u2019s majority leader, Kimani Ichung\u2019wah, dismissed the demonstrators as privileged youngsters who wield iPhones, arrive at demonstrations via Uber and then go to eat at KFC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Protesters hit back against that description. \u201cIt\u2019s not about how we get to the protests, but why we are here in the streets,\u201d said Anita Barasa, 19, whose <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RailaOdinga\/status\/1803112388931027124\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">TikTok videos<\/a> about the demonstrations have gained a strong following. \u201cThey are trying to take attention away from our demands, but we, the cool kids, are seeing that we don\u2019t have a bright future and want change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">As tensions mounted over the bill in the past few days, some politicians praised the young protesters for taking a keen interest in the country\u2019s future. At a church service on Sunday, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WilliamsRuto\/status\/1804801648465957212\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">President Ruto said he was \u201cproud\u201d of the demonstrating youth<\/a> and promised to \u201chave a conversation so that together we can build a great nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But as the protests got underway on Tuesday, activists and critics said the early-morning abductions of some activists showed that the government was not ready to engage in a sincere dialogue. <\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Several protesters, including Mr. McOure, said they had received threats or intimidating phone calls in the days and hours leading up to the protests and were fearing for their lives, although they said they would not be silenced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cNo matter what they do, we will remain unbowed in our demand that we reject the finance bill,\u201d Mr. McOure said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/06\/25\/world\/africa\/kenya-taxes-protests.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets on Tuesday in a movement led by younger people that demonstrators hope will compel the government to scrap a finance bill that critics say would make life onerous for millions of people who are struggling to make ends meet. The debate over the bill has shaken Kenya, an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80703,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/06\/25\/multimedia\/25kenya-tax-protests-lftj\/25kenya-tax-protests-lftj-facebookJumbo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[15116,15400,19662,124,10452,4759,8241,9568,301,33557],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80702"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80702"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80704,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80702\/revisions\/80704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}