NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s new finance minister says some of the proposed taxes that have led to weeks of deadly protests be reintroduced earlier this year through a tax reform bill as the country struggles to find revenue to pay down debt.
The announcement by John Mbadi in a local television interview aired on Sunday has already drawn criticism from some Kenyans, whose anger over the rising cost of living had led to protesters storming parliament and pressuring President William Ruto to drop a controversial finance bill and dismiss most of his cabinet.
But now some of the proposals in that unpopular finance bill are back. Mbadi said the tax reform would include dozens of measures, including a tax on goods deemed not environmentally friendly.
“This country is not a dumping ground,” he said.
Critics said the tax would increase the cost of products such as sanitary napkins and diapers.
The youth-led protest movement has already responded to the minister’s comments, saying demonstrations will continue across Kenya. More than 50 people have died since the protests began in mid-June, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, amid allegations of police brutality.
Opposition party leader Robert Mbui told a local television station on Monday that the plan to resubmit some of the proposals was a “mistake” and accused the new minister of “ambiguity” after he said earlier this month he had no plans to raise taxes.
Kenya’s president defended the new taxes, saying the country should be self-sufficient and warned that there would be an increase in taxes. implications after the previous bill was withdrawn.
Protesters also demanded the president’s resignation, but Ruto said he would not do so.
