Kenya Braces for Major Protests Over Proposed Tax Hikes

Kenya’s government was bracing Tuesday for major protests over a proposed finance bill that many Kenyans fear will significantly raise their already-high cost of living by adding sweeping new taxes on a wide range of goods and services.

Protest groups have called on people to occupy Parliament on Tuesday while wearing black T-shirts and blowing vuvuzelas, adding to an outpouring of online anger trumpeted through viral hash tags and videos on TikTok. Lawmakers have been flooded with phone calls and text messages pressuring them to reject the bill.

The uproar over the legislation, which is aimed at raising more revenue, is among the most intense backlash against the government of President William Ruto, who campaigned on a platform to raise living standards for the poor when he was elected in 2022.

The protests come just weeks after Mr. Ruto returned from a state visit to the United States, where he signed several investment and development deals with the Biden administration aimed at alleviating debt and sparking long-term growth.

The fury over the tax measures in Kenya speaks to the broader challenges facing African economies, where unemployment and increasing food and fuel prices have made life increasingly difficult for many people, particularly the young.

“The frustration has been building and now it’s blowing up,” said Hanifa Adan, a community worker who is among the organizers of the protests.