Kenyan youths have continued to occupy streets across the country to protest the 2024 Finance Bill.
Dubbed Gen Z (those born between 1997-2012) and millennials (born between 1981-1996), they flooded social media and streets nationwide in opposition to the newly proposed tax measures for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The Finance Bill, officially published by the National Assembly on May 9, 2024, introduces significant amendments to Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), and Excise Duty, alongside changes in tax administration in Kenya. A particularly contentious provision is the proposed 16% VAT on financial transactions and essential commodities like bread, sugar, and milk among others.
These amendments have sparked public outcry, with Kenyans expressing frustration over anticipated increases in living costs amidst existing economic challenges.
During the protests, youth carried placards with messages such as “Say No to Economic Dictatorship”, “Child of the Small-Scale Businesswoman”, and “Gen Z for Parliament”.
Others held bread aloft, symbolizing concerns over rising prices, while slogans denounced corruption, over-taxation, and unemployment. Chants of “Wakenya wamechoka na Zakayo” (Kenyans are tired of Ruto) echoed through the streets, reflecting widespread discontent.
| Nation Media/Citizen Digital
