Kenyan MPs Adopt Controversial Finance Bill Amid Nationwide Street Protests

Kenya's National Assembly adopted changes to the Finance Bill 2024 on Tuesday, despite a boycott by the official Opposition and strong opposition from millions of ordinary Kenyans who protested both on the streets and online.

The bill, which has caused national outrage due to "punitive taxes and levies," was passed at the Committee Stage in less than two hours. Reports suggest it could become Kenya's most quickly adopted finance bill, as similar laws have historically taken days to enact.

President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance, holding a majority in the National Assembly, easily pushed the bill through despite widespread protests. The official opposition, led by Raila Odinga's Azimio coalition, withdrew all their proposed changes, stating that amendments would have been futile.

With the bill now in the committee of the whole House, it has become a government matter. Azimio lawmakers, along with some Kenya Kwanza colleagues and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, avoided the proceedings.

Key changes adopted by the House include the removal of the annual 2.5 percent motor vehicle circulation tax, value-added tax on diaspora remittances, and raw materials for local manufacture of diapers and sanitary pads. Lawmakers also voted to keep bread zero-rated from the proposed 16 percent value-added tax.

Meanwhile, protests continue, and Auma Obama, half-sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama, was teargassed by police during a live interview with CNN.

Kenya is experiencing nationwide protests against the proposed tax hikes, culminating in a planned “total shutdown” of the country. Demonstrations under the banner of “7 Days of Rage” have led to ongoing unrest.

Amnesty International Kenya is investigating the disappearance of up to 12 people who were “abducted in the middle of the night” ahead of Tuesday’s planned protests. The missing individuals include bloggers, content creators, human rights defenders, a doctor, and a parliamentary staffer.