Protests Erupt In Nairobi CBD As Traders March Towards KRA Offices, Decry Exorbitant Taxes
Protests erupted in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Friday, August 28, as small-scale traders took to the streets to protest what they termed an “unreasonable increase in taxes by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)”.
The traders began their demonstrations from Kamukunji before marching through Moi Avenue towards the KRA offices at Time Tower, disrupting normal business activities in the city centre.
Images posted online showed traders holding placards and blowing vuvuzelas as they moved through the streets, with the demonstrations bringing activities in parts of the CBD to a standstill.
As the demonstrations intensified, police officers who were on high alert began lobbing tear gas to disperse small traders along Parliament Road and Kenyatta Avenue.
The confrontation briefly disrupted movement and transportation along the two roads as the traders continued with their march towards the KRA offices at Time Tower.
Most businesses remained closed during the protests as traders joined the demonstrations to express their opposition to the latest tax measures and demand government action.
The traders are particularly protesting KRA’s decision to increase the customs minimum benchmark for general containerised consolidated cargo from Ksh2.5 million to Ksh3.2 million.
The new benchmark, which took effect on August 20, 2026, represents an increase of Ksh700,000 and has sparked strong opposition from traders and other members of the business community.
The traders argue that the increase will place an additional financial burden on small businesses, particularly importers who are already dealing with rising operating costs.
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They are calling on the government to reconsider the new benchmark.
They also warned that the higher customs valuation could increase the cost of importing goods and ultimately increase the price of goods.
However, KRA has defended the adjustment, maintaining that the new benchmark was introduced to address challenges in customs valuation and prevent revenue losses.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, KRA said the adjustment was aimed at curbing undervaluation, under-declaration, misdescription and revenue leakages.
The Authority added that the review took into account changes in economic conditions and freight charges, which it said had necessitated an adjustment of the benchmark.
Traders have raised concerns that the higher benchmark could increase their tax obligations and further reduce the profits they make from their businesses.
Protests Erupt In Nairobi CBD As Traders March Towards KRA Offices, Decry Exorbitant Taxes
