The government in Kenya has scrapped some proposed taxes in this year’s controversial finance bill, including a 16% levy on bread, after a public outcry.
The announcement by members of parliament came as police fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse angry protesters in the country’s capital, Nairobi.
Dozens of people have been arrested with lawyers earlier joining chanting crowds at the city’s main police station to demand that detainees be freed.
Since coming to office in 2022, President William Ruto has introduced several new and unpopular taxes with the aim of eliminating the country’s national debt of nearly $80 billion
But critics of the latest proposals fear they will stifle economic growth and lead to job losses.