What's behind the widespread protests in Kenya? | Inside Story
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- čas přidán 21. 06. 2024
- Widespread protests in Kenya against proposed new taxes - police criticised for using excessive force. Many on the streets are young, mobilised by social media. Why is the government pushing the new taxes? And why has there been such a reaction?
Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam
Guests:
Stella Agara - Tax Justice Activist and Africa Governance and Security Analyst.
Reginald Kadzutu - Finance Economist at Oxford Brooks University.
Nicodemus Minde - Researcher with the East Africa Peace and Security Governance Program at the Institute for Security Studies.
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#KenyaProtests #TaxHikeProtests #PoliceBrutality #HumanRights #AmnestyInternational #JusticeForProtesters #KenyaUnrest #StopTheViolence
Our problem is not giving taxes. The problem is the plundering and theft of public resources, and taxing more to steal
@giddyakali27 so basically when the whites stop ruling South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Zaire, Algeria, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Mozambique everything turned to excrement......oh well your (grand) parents were warned about the perils of black majority rule !
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
Sadly, that happens everywhere in the world. What you need however is a government or president which puts the people of Kenya and the nation first not an internationalist. Most of our African leaders are not patriots.
So it's easy to say he's a USA puppet
Precisely!More to steal from , instead of cleaning up inside the management, so that money would start working for all , so the Kenyan economy organically would start to grow
The anger started when the president hired a private luxury jet to go to the USA for 1.5 million dollars instead of using the national airline for 500,000 dollars. We have a spending problem not an income problem
All their leaders are western puppets and they are looting the country into their swiss bank accounts.
What was his reason for using the luxury jet?
@@jairbol884 Man loves luxury too much. They just spent 10,000,000 dollars on furniture at State House in the last year.
He said 10million dollars 😊
@@Anteater01and it isn't a new statehouse or anything like that. Even if it's expansion of upgrade that's just unreasonably wasteful!
Protest is a sign of resistance and civilized society. In Eritrea 🇪🇷 we never Protest, we just let our government do what it wants😢. Way to go Kenya.
Eritera is done !
Is Eriteria a country even?
We resist because we know what if affecting us from these stupid politicians
All I can say is that no Kenyan can honestly say they knew this day would come so soon. There's always hope!
ኣንታ ደንቆሮ መሊሰልካ ኣለኹ ኣንብብ። ተምሃር ድማ።
Kenya Police using live ammunition to young people
RUTO 🇰🇪 🇰🇪
🇰🇪. MUST GO
#. GEN. Z. KENYA
LET'S OCCUPY PARLIAMENT
REJECT FINANCE BILL 2024
U can tell they are very poor, but they keep announcing and lying that our money currency is stable.. honestly, I can't see any more stable than poverty. 😄😄😄😄
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
Ruto must GO to Prison
Our problem is not paying taxes...It is paying taxes for corrupt politicians looting all the money. Kenya is a rich and beautiful country, only bad leadership
Every single international news channel covering our protests has not been able to properly articulate the background of the anger and why in particular the bill is bad. None of them talk about the eco levy, motor tax, the implications on local manufacturing industries, cancer treatments, and the breach of data privacy by KRA. Which then ends up making Kenyans look like they do not want to pay tax. On top of that, none of them mention that before we took an IMF loan, Kenyans strongly protested against the IMF loan as we are learned and we know about the conditionalities imposed. Remember when the Sun called Kenyans stupid for calling on their country to not take an IMF loan? Arrgh it's so annoying how our movements always get misrepresented. We are experiencing the ramifications of the conditionalities of an IMF loan amidst a broken and corrupt government It's almost like there's something here .......
Kenya budget is almost double the Tanzania and Uganda budgets. What do we have to show for it? Where is tax accountability? Apart from seeing government sided politicians driving big cars, splashing money in churches through Harambees, wearing expensive clothes, watches, belts and shoes.... what else do we have to show for our yearly budgets?
Where is the accountability for road contracts, housing levy fund, SGR contract, Eurobond, Chickengate, Angloleasing, Goldernberg, maize scandals... where is our money?
We are angry. We do not want to be shipped abroad to work as slaves, we want to live in or country, within our means and with opportunities for all.
You've nailed it Mr kinoti!
You spoke my mind sir. Thanks 👍
Thank you!
Well articulated Mwenda. 😊
Since you mentioned them, can you compare Kenya's development to that of Tanzania and Uganda? Kenya is miles ahead so there is something to show for the bigger budget. You can argue that we should have more to show for it. There is no question that government spending on luxuries and corruption have a big part to play in the economy of a country and that must be curtailed. However, there is no magic bullet to help fix the overall economy of the country. A leadership change won't suddenly fix the issue for instance. Also, there is nothing wrong with going abroad to look for work. I'm abroad and I'm happy. Also, inward remittances from diaspora bolster the economy. We live in global economy. International labour migration is a reality. So yes we can do much better if we stamp out corruption, curtail spending and have the right policies in place but expectations have to be tempered with a dose of reality.
If Ruto does not take this seriously then the protesters can and will turn violent.he thought running a Country was like rearing chickens 🐔.he now understands that he is very young in the world political landscape.Nairobian born and raised.Our parents fought for Independence.We fought a dictatorship for our democracy.We are not going back.
Recently saw akina Oscar Sudi contributing 20m Kwa harambees wanjinga waliicha Kenya
Very true. All of a sudden, those around the president are literally floating in money, dishing it out like pancakes 😢
Am a Ugandan but I talked about this and exactly this was my point. In Africa some people think that to lead you only need to be voted,its very farrrrrr away from A meer vote 😂😂😂
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
@@safinanamujju6105 we like to romatisize things like Americans smh.he is not qualified to run Kenyans much less Nairobians.Atajua hajui.That 2027 looks way too far traveling with Ruto.We have shed blood for our children to live in a better world.Utashagaa.
Ruto must Gooooo!!
What did u expect when he befriended museveni, that man!!
Greediness of Ruto is too much he spends our tax money in travelling all over the world. He is a tourist not a president in less than 2 years he has travelled 56 times to foreign countries doing what? We cant pay taxes to fuel choppers for roaming the world with his goons and family.
👍👍👍💋💋❤️
😢😢😢😢
Ati looking for jobs huko nje za umboch na masoja for graduates
And mind you, the new bill exempts his choppers and flights from taxes. There's so many levels to this thing. They are not even talking about 800 million set aside for renovations for the deputy president. We need someone who can properly explain the background that started all the way from COVID. A 2BN budget f for the first lady yet the government says they do not have 900 million to pay doctors and interns, arguably the most essential health sector.
Kenya's debt to GDP went from 36 percent to 76 percent in 10 years. The amount of government borrowing was insanely irresponsible. But congrats, you got to see multiple politicians cut ribbons on a bunch of unprofitable projects to appease constituents.
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
Oh my days you're right mister, but please don't patronise us and rub salt in the wound 😭
We didn't know what we were doing. Now we know that we can never again afford to not know what we are doing. All part of the process.
@MrJM540 , we didn't know better. That's why us, the young people, are not going to relent on this fact.
Zakayo must stop chocking Kenyans up to brim
This is just the beginning....Watch as we make ruto understand he isn't almighty....We the people will bring him down
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
Ruto must Go!
Mwizi
Ruto must Go!
Mwizi
Ruto must Go!
Mwizi
Ruto must Go !
Aende
😂😂
Ghana also needs something like this , if this so call leaders don't do what is right in Ghana . We want this also in Ghana. We Afters don't need these so call leaders in Africa 🌍
The time is now. You can do it too. Spark the conversations online in your country
Most of them are puppets
Very possible
All their leaders are western puppets and they are looting the country into their swiss bank accounts.
There is only one male in Ghana: John Jerry Rawlings, unfortunately he is gone.
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. ❤
Am a Kenyan, we are suffering here. Politicians and government officials do not care and the rate and appetite for public theft has increased ten folds while there are no jobs or incomes improving. Right now anyone who's lucky to be earning 50,000 Kenyan shillings goes home with less than 30,000. and remember this group is not even 10%of the population. FOR WHATEVER IT WILL TAKE, RUTO MUST GO! Period. We are even ready to die.
Remember, the politicians keep buying new heavy vehicles and flaunt them online every week. They keep rubbing the stolen money in our faces.
Ruto is making us IMF worrkers and then eat that money with his goons
Poor guy. How else will he afford Christian Louboutin shoes?
Zakayo is at a very difficult impulse....He doubles down Kenyans double to...Gladly we have the constitution and we will make his life difficult...he will not govern in peace
Please DON'T call that guy his excellency. That guy is our servant, we pay him...why are you esteeming him?
Ruto must fall
Going where? For who to take over? Use your brain, don't try placing another Mt Kenya leadership onto that seat, they're the genesis and perpetrators of all these mess we are finding ourselves in
We're just tired! Life is supposed to be lived. Majority are surviving as a few embezzle and live in opulence
We in Kenya we have serious issues to deal with, One of them is The puppet Ruto
The mistake the Media is making is to think these protests are about the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill is but an Umbrella of the underlying issues. You take away the umbrella then you expose the rot. That's my understanding of these protests.
He's also a muppet
Ruto thinks Kenya is a religious congregation he can command using the word of God and we follow like sheep. Primitive of him.
in Rwanda, the general population wouldn't even know what this means in case it happens, kenyans are intellectuals
The fact that the MPs have dismissed the protests as unnecessary noise has angered the youths further. Ruto must fall
Thank you for airing this.
HE MUST GO
Ruto, a puppet, must Go
He's practically sold out country how do we even start recovering from this?
All their leaders are western puppets and they are looting the country into their swiss bank accounts.
Zakayo lazima ashuke mbuyu
Aljazeera reporter harping on China when the IMF is Kenya biggest lender and set the austerity and tax for Kenya.
It's the loan for the SGR that pushed Kenya to the brink of default. The IMF is the lender of last resort, they only lend so your economy does not collapse. If you seek an IMF loan, it means you have failed to control your budget. This starts and ends with the Kenyan governments lack of fiscal responsibility.
@@CorncropTvkenya has never defaulted....Kenyans have no problem with taxes....its how taxes are used...You cannot replace statehouse furniture using a billion for a place that did not need it tell us that government has no money.....we are many and we will stop this bill
@@eldios831 You didn't even read my comment and jumped the gun on a reply. I said Kenya was on the "Brink of default". You have access to the internet, so please look up what happens when a developing country defaults on its loans. If you think you know poverty now, you haven't seen anything yet.
@@CorncropTv If you lend me money yet you know am a drunkard/spendrift, then you are not helping me but you are part of the problem if not the problem.IMF keeps lending successive corrupt governments, how do you keep lending a corrupt person if you are not benefitting from the lending? IMF and WorldBank are in cohort with the criminals in State.The way i see it i think i cannot dismiss western imperialism in all this
@salimadiyo9442 The alternative is to default and be locked out of global financial markets. All nations run on debt. If you can no longer borrow at a reasonable interest rate, then businesses En masse, shut down, and hundreds of thousands of people (or even millions) lose their jobs, which cripples your tax base. This is basic economics. Having weak institutions is a fault of the nation's lack of social cohesion and / or lack of morality. Plenty of post-colonial nations have gotten their act together and are thriving while seeing massive amounts of investments into profitable industries, so this isn't an excuse people should keep using. Look within.
Too much graft and corruption; has to be dealt with.
The problem in Kenya isn’t revenue,it’s the expenditure that’s ridiculous,the budgeted corruption. 600m shs to renovate a house that Ruto spent 300m shs to renovate afew years ago when he was DP.
This is so cruel as the floods families are still struggling to find food and shelter.
Soon, if he doesn’t change the status of our country, he will sleep on the curb or under the bridge
Millions of young men with no job prospects ans nothing to loose are a ticking time bomb...
Ruto is playing.Always fear a man that has nothing to lose
Ruto must go.
That is the only way to go.
Big up Kenyan youth.
You inspire us from Uganda.
Holding a public office should not be a way of enriching yourselves but solving people's problems.
Can you imagine ruto promised 100$ to flood victims . Meanwhile he is spending millions on luxury cars and paying themselves
Yet dollar iko 129$ -130$ hii haimake sense walae, Na Kenya is f***up
Corruption is the problem not tax, we can manage as a country without increasing high taxes
Having 47 counties is unsustainable in Kenya. Let's have 8. The previous provincial adminstrations should be the counties. Kenyans are overepresented
Devolution has enabled corruption
Devolution has enabled corruption
Hata iwe moja ruto will still suck the country dry. He is a nig curse to the nation called Kenya.
I totally agree
Too much unnecessary number of governors, senators, women rep, and MCA's..
Our problem as patriotic Kenyans is not about paying taxes but accountability of those taxes collected.
As Kenyan, I say Ruto must go! Problem is misuse of taxes!
U can tell they are very poor, but they keep announcing and lying that our money currency is stable.. honestly, I can't see any more stable than poverty. 😄😄😄😄
Can’t help but notice …
Most of the items whose taxes have increased are imports !!!
How rather why can’t the same government initiate projects to have locally produced such items ?
Creating much needed jobs along the way ?
🤷♀️
Cost of doing business is so high that it's cheaper to import
I think that is sort or the plan, to reduce imports and increase local production but the way they are going about it is bizarre, not to mention all the stealing and unmitigated corruption.
You know this is a vote of no confidence for the president from the youth. We are not seeing value for our money. It's all getting lost in corruption and embezzlement.
So many local manufacturing companies have closed down due to high taxation. Making it hard to keep the businesses running.
We also had a finance bill 23/24 that was not realistic. Hence, necessitating a supplementary. But the amounts collected were good. The government is spending too much and doesn't seem to lose the appetite to spend in very unnecessary things. For instance, we all feel we are overrepresented, but Ruto wants to employ 50CAS. What are they going to do for us? The revenue is not the problem. It's the spending. Now he wants a good salary statement to borrow more and feed his now found travel hobby at our expense, and let's not even mention the corruption that's going on.
To the team at AJ on behalf of Kenyans thank you for giving us a platform to tell our story and tell it how it needs to be heard. Kudos
I am a Kenyan living in Europe but I can tell you, our people are sick and tired of the unmitigated corruption on display. Kenyans have been reasonably paying taxes yet all the money is being embezzled by powerful government officials and politicians. It is appalling. In as much as I send money home, the cost of living is too high and unsustainable. Why should our people suffer for the greed of a few? The government can't continue increasing taxes and yet there's nothing to show for it because all that money is lining some people's pockets! Kenyans are tired and I am glad we have a generation of young people who are demanding accountability from the government that is meant to serve them.
Ruto should seek asylum in Washington and should leave now, before it is too late.
thats so funny now-thank you 😀
We don't need anymore corrupt people politicians etc in Washington or the United States! Keep him there ,
@@meloneypullen8746 His support is mainly from the US government officials. Do you even know he was in white House few weeks ago?
@meloneypullen8746 Ruto is a favorite to Biden. I'm sure his friend can organise something for him there.
We don’t want him here… aende kwengine…😂
Most of these debts we're taken while we were in school and stolen by our leaders,right now we are being heavily taxed so they pay debts and most of us are unemployed.it's unfair
The money is borrowed but instead of it being used for development it goes to individual's pockets and the cycle continues so the country remains undeveloped but you end up having very rich ppppp who become even now more richer with the money they stole.
You are foolish if that is what you think. Ruto's main goal is to loot heavily from the public. Wake up you!
Taxes is not as solution to paying Dept's we raise the highest taxes in trillions the problem is spending and priorities
Keep going non stops.
Increasing VAT on fuel came with 2023/24 bill. It remains 16%. The increase is on the levy, that is said to move from Sh. 2 per litre to Sh. 9 per litre.
Thanks for this, I am enlightened
Who said most people are unlearned? this is wrong. The lady does not know what she is saying
Enda west pokot,turkana,samburu,kajiado utajua
Please educate yourself 🙏
How many doctors..cardiologists..engineers ..etc do we have out of a population of almost 60m peope ..
Those marginalized communities are not even 10% of Kenyan population and still most can read and write
It is the supporters of the bill that are unlearned. Those who get their inspiration from Oscar Sudi the State House incognito comptroller.
Last year they upped the taxes, opposition opposed them but they tribalized the demonstrations. They collected the taxes did nothing with the taxes. Now they are back with higher taxes young people are demostrating they can't blame Luo's or Raila but they are buying expensive cars, clothes and watches. Every Sunday they are fund raising in churches where they donate millions.
They think God can't see past their bullshit sherade...!!!
Ruto must go!!!!
All their leaders are western puppets and they are looting the country into their swiss bank accounts.
We need Ruto to step down ,too much embezzlement,budgeted corruption ,confidential budgeting which means that no one knows where this money approximately 800 million is going to,
The taxes on menstrual products weren't dropped. They were dropped only for locally produces products but most menstrual products in the market are imported.
That is what I was wondering..can the local produced pads be enough
No. Locally manufactured pads are nowhere near enough. Plus they're of really low quality which makes them uncomfortable, ineffective for some women and pose the risk of infections.
Exactly! I was wondering why she was saying these were dropped. Most popular brands are imported and these are the ones that currently are able to meet many women's needs especially if you have sensitivity or experience heavier flows.
Kenya did not have protests during Kibaki time time wise leaders avoid problems
BRIBES , Bribing ..Deals, Corruption in Ruto's office ...Too much Expenditures ...A Tourist...?? KENYANS TO PAY HIS PRIVATE JET...RUTO Goooooooo!! RESIGN...
Living within our means should be the norm. The government should cut on expenditure and deal with corruption. Simple.
A proud Father to Gen z daughter who is now on the to correct the mistake i did in 2022 by voting Ruto.😢😢😢😢😢😢
Shame on you. A whole man of the house proud your child might die coz of your stupidity. Go to the street.
Daddy msirudie that mistake again ......we forgive but this gorvernment has to go home
In Uganda, the president has refused to sign the 2024 finance bill. Urged parliament to revisit it and comeup people friendly laws.
This is good journalism. Keep it up Aljazeera❤
The biggest problem is the lavish spending for government officials will Kenyas are suffering
ruto the flying lying president
The politicians from Kenya 🇰🇪 were unavailable because they don't know what the bill entails and how it will help it's citizen let alone the country. Incompetence all over the politicians is a norm in Kenya. At the moment we not only don't want the finance bill but Ruto should leave that office. A greedy war criminal that one.
...they oppressed worn out and tired and want change and not have to struggle so hard for nothing..in places like Africa if you think inflation is bad in America it's even worse and more expensive for them and they hardly have nothing to begin with that's why..they so upset... and that tax increase does kinda look like corruption..
They can show for their taxes
What do you expect when the head of state visits "NATO" countries 😢😢
And me I take that as the concrete reason why people are even more than bitter. Am a Ugandan but if our countries are bleeding and such leaders tries to allie with the worst country in the world "America " they will never wish anyone good ,they always want to lead in pretence with help ,we are tired of such leaders😢😢. He thought leading is for inexperienced ones
Ruto is stealing more than he can handle
I'm a kenyan and I am kenya and Ruto must go!!!!
corruption is the key problem
✊
We will fight for our rights . We will not allow the bill to pass
Thank you Aljazeera❤
I fell in love with a Kenyan woman, we used to watch Golden Girls together it was her favorite show, I miss her as I had to travel back to America, I worry about her now even though she isn't in Kenya right now I will never forget the time we shared I wish I married you and miss you dearly
Ugandans we should also learn a lesson and start protesting we are paying very very high taxes on everything, big up Kenyans for standing up
Thank you Madam Stella Agara for laying it out well
We've been having the same system since independence,of oppression,,the youths have been silent for too long,now we've woken up,We will fight for a better Kenya
The Arab spring started this way
🎯
We're unhappy with renovating DP residence using 600m yet the house cost 400m to build. We better build a new one and save 200m for pads and diapers subsidy.
This is a good conversion to have. It also shows the vibrace of our people who are aware of their rights. The people have spoken, the government now needs to act!
This Ruto of yours was recently in Zimbabwe where people are taxed as if by a coloniser.I am not surprise to see this happen because I was questioning his visit. Down with leaders who are anti- people! I cannot wait to see leaders like Ruto go home and take care of grandchildren.
Just prayers needed dearest friends 🙌 🙏
It's not about the finance Bill, it's about the wastage, the lies, the corruption. This government cannot account for any cent taxpayers pay, all we see is few individuals living large at our expense.
There is a punitive clause to tax your freehold land.
We don’t have a problem paying taxes. The problem is accountability. We can’t be paying taxes to benefit few individuals.
RUTO MUST GO!!
Ugandans we should also learn a lesson and start protesting we are paying very very high taxes on everything, big up Kenyans for standing up 2:09
I see the CIA is busy
Not really ,Ruto is their (the west) puppet...🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪
Not this time we want them out
RUTO MUST GOOOOOOOO. The worst president in the history of Gen Z
If Kenya is struggling economically why did ruto higher ajet from Dubai to Kenya then to America millions of shillings?
Aljazerra, the 'removal of tax on menstrual products' is a smoke screen. A majority of menstrual products are imported, therefore still subject to import taxes. What was waived is taxes on menstrual products manufactured in Kenya which is a very small percentage in the market.
kenyans are learned. kazi ndio hatuna. that lady does not know what she is saying nkt yee ndio hajasoma
We unaeza ongea kizungu kama yeye 😂 bila kustammer..?
@@fredopitpat-bd4tj mbaya sana. Nvenye siongeangi kila siku
There is more to it too than just increased taxes. There is the exhorbitant expenditure by the government, the lack of accountability on how tax collected is used, the lack of basic services and increased prices of basic goods , the apparent sudden lavish lifestyles of the legislators and executive yet the rest of us are struggling with reduced disposable income.
Kenya should join BRICS so as to be helped by Russia to counter western neocolonialism kenya is still a colony of british with colonial clerks such as RUTO
There is no amount of explanation by gov will deter us from throwing the street in coming weeks.The problem here is not excess taxes, our taxes are being squandered and the man behind is president himself.
I'm happy for my country. ..the revolution is growing strong
Great coverage, our government is a sham
Govt didn't accept the invitation to discuss because they don't even know what's in it.. it's like they were given a copy and they ran with it
Great conversation
Am from Kenya, the main issue is where the money is going, most of the money on the finance is going basically in their pockets.
Proud Kenyan!
Lies Lies from Zakayo, Biggest pretender and hypocrite of all time..Corrupt to the core
Ruto must go!!!
Ruto must go
This finance bill is also taxing our freehold land to lease hold which means if ur unable to pay tax on your land the government acquies it
Everyone is avoiding this one and it is the most dangerous thing.
@@nicholasthiongo Surprisingly! Mostly it's because the GENZ's aren't land owners!