Kenya Police use tear gas on Protesters opposed to government’s proposed higher taxes

Police in Kenya have dispersed protesters demonstrating in the capital against some of the government’s proposed measures to impose new or higher taxes on items including fuel with tear gas.

Dozens of protesters had sought to gather at a park in the centre of Nairobi before marching to parliament to urge MPs to reject the tax proposals.

One of the key contested measures in the unpopular finance bill is a new 3% housing fund levy for all salaried workers and increase of value added tax on fuel to 16%.

The bill also calls for taxes on beauty products, crypto-currencies and earnings by social media influencers.

Legislators are set to debate the bill on Thursday, amid warnings issued by President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua against those opposed to the proposals.