One man shot dead in Kenya amid protests over tax hikes
Al JazeeraThe protests are to oppose tax increases imposed amid soaring cost of living, despite a court-ordered suspension. One man has been shot dead in Kenya following anti-government protests on Friday over a new finance law that has doubled the fuel tax and introduced a housing levy for employees. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called the protests to oppose tax increases that were imposed despite a court-ordered suspension and came at a time when many people were already struggling with persistently high prices of basic commodities such as maize flour. President William Ruto’s government says the tax hikes, expected to raise an extra 200 billion shillings a year, are needed to help deal with growing debt repayments and fund job-creating initiatives. Earlier this year, thousands of Kenyans heeded the veteran opposition leader’s calls for anti-government protests on Mondays and Thursdays and held three rallies – despite a government ban on demonstrations.