Kenyan police fired tear gas on Friday at small-scale traders protesting against a steep import duty hike in Nairobi, forcing hundreds of commercial businesses in the capital to shut down, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera. The demonstrations brought major portions of downtown Nairobi to a standstill as crowds marched toward the national parliament building to voice their frustration over surging business operational expenses and an escalating cost of living crisis.
The unrest was triggered by a recent policy shift implemented by the Kenya Revenue Authority, which significantly increased the customs valuation benchmark for imported goods. Under the new regulations, the minimum valuation baseline for a consolidated forty-foot container was raised from 2.5 million Kenyan shillings, roughly equivalent to 19,320 dollars, to 3.2 million shillings, or approximately 24,700 dollars. This change effectively adds more than 5,000 dollars to the import costs of a single container, placing severe financial pressure on small enterprises.
The Kenya Revenue Authority defended the decision, arguing that the elevated benchmark is essential to prevent the systematic undervaluation and under-declaration of imported goods. Officials maintained that stricter valuation protects domestic manufacturers and compliant importers from unfair market competition. However, small retailers and logistics consolidators argue that the sudden policy enforcement will decimate independent enterprises that rely on shared cargo space to reduce international freight charges.
The Kenya trader protests reflect widespread public disillusionment with existing economic conditions across the East African nation.
Many shop owners closed their premises to actively join the march, while others shuttered operations out of concern for potential property damage. Al Jazeera reported that the demonstrations highlight deep-seated public mistrust toward government institutions, driven by worsening inflationary pressures and widespread public perceptions of administrative corruption. Demonstrators emphasized that the increased levies threaten their basic livelihoods and commercial survival in an already strained economic environment.
In response to the backlash, revenue officials clarified that the 3.2 million shilling threshold serves merely as a baseline reference point rather than a fixed tax on every shipment. Importers bringing in goods valued above that figure remain obligated to declare the authentic value and clear the corresponding statutory fees. Despite these official clarifications, business associations in Nairobi continue to demand a formal review of the customs policy, as heavily armed security forces maintain an active presence across major transit corridors in the capital.
