Kenyan Gen Z at the Forefront of Anti-Tax Protests

The Gen Z generation has emerged as a new force in Kenyan society and is at the forefront of protests challenging the government’s controversial finance bill. The protests, which have sent shockwaves through Kenya and resulted in the government rolling back some of its tax proposals, began on TikTok with young Kenyans venting their frustrations at the proposals. On Tuesday, hundreds of these protesters marched through Nairobi, livestreaming their confrontation with police who responded with tear gas and water cannons. The protests, known as “occupy parliament,” were driven by social media coordination, with protesters donning black clothes and demanding the withdrawal of unpopular tax proposals. The movement has united Kenyans across ethnic and political lines, focusing solely on the tax issue. Their efforts have led to the government scrapping some of the bill’s most contentious provisions, including a proposed VAT on bread, cooking oil, and mobile money services.SOURCE: BBC