World News
Kenyan police fire tear gas at Nairobi traders protesting import duty hike
Hundreds of businesses shut down as protesters marched toward parliament to oppose increased customs benchmarks.
The short version
- Police in Nairobi used tear gas to disperse small-scale traders protesting a substantial increase in customs duties for imported cargo containers.
- The Kenya Revenue Authority defended the increase as a measure to combat under-declaration, while traders warned it will devastate small businesses.
- The demonstration forced hundreds of businesses in the capital to close and brought portions of central Nairobi to a standstill.
Key facts
- Kenyan police deployed tear gas against small-scale traders protesting in central Nairobi on Friday.[Al Jazeera]
- The Kenya Revenue Authority increased the minimum customs benchmark for a consolidated 40-foot container from 2.5 million shillings ($19,320) to 3.2 million shillings ($24,700).[Al Jazeera]
- The revenue authority stated the hike, which went into effect last week, is intended to curb the under-declaration and undervaluation of imported goods.[Al Jazeera]
- Traders argued the higher duties will raise import costs and severely hurt small businesses that depend on consolidated shipments to save money.[Al Jazeera]
- Protesters closed their shops—some to join the march to parliament and others out of safety concerns—disrupting business in Nairobi's city center.[Al Jazeera]