Kenyan police fire tear gas at Nairobi protest against import duty hike
News Source
โขFri, 28 Aug 2026 16:12:16 +0000
๐ฐ What Happened
Police in Kenya fired tear gas at small-scale traders protesting a hike in import duties. The demonstrations on Friday brought parts of central Nairobi to a standstill, and hundreds of businesses closed for the day. Traders are frustrated with the rising cost of living and business costs.
The Kenya Revenue Authority says the higher duty fights under-declared and undervalued goods, which it says hurts honest businesses and local makers. It raised the minimum customs benchmark for a 40-foot container to 3.2 million shillings ($24,700) from 2.5 million ($19,320). Traders say the extra charges will push up costs and strangle small firms that share containers to save money.
๐ The Backstory
Kenya has seen waves of protests in recent years over taxes and the cost of living. Small traders are a huge part of the economy, and many import goods in shared containers to keep costs down.
The government says it needs the revenue, partly because Kenya must pay down heavy debts and support a weak currency. But every new tax lands on the same people: small business owners and the shoppers who buy from them. When trade costs rise, shop prices rise, and families feel it at the till.
๐ฏ Why It Matters
Higher import duties mean higher prices in local shops, so everyday goods cost more. These protests show how tax policy hits ordinary families directly, not just big companies.
Police in Kenya fired tear gas at small-scale traders protesting a hike in import duties. The demonstrations on Friday brought parts of central Nairobi to a standstill, and hundreds of businesses closed for the day. Traders are frustrated with the rising cost of living and business costs.
The Kenya Revenue Authority says the higher duty fights under-declared and undervalued goods, which it says hurts honest businesses and local makers. It raised the minimum customs benchmark for a 40-foot container to 3.2 million shillings ($24,700) from 2.5 million ($19,320). Traders say the extra charges will push up costs and strangle small firms that share containers to save money.
Kenya has seen waves of protests in recent years over taxes and the cost of living. Small traders are a huge part of the economy, and many import goods in shared containers to keep costs down.
The government says it needs the revenue, partly because Kenya must pay down heavy debts and support a weak currency. But every new tax lands on the same people: small business owners and the shoppers who buy from them. When trade costs rise, shop prices rise, and families feel it at the till.
Higher import duties mean higher prices in local shops, so everyday goods cost more. These protests show how tax policy hits ordinary families directly, not just big companies.