Kenyan police fire tear gas at Nairobi protest against import duty hike

What the report says

Police in Kenya fired tear gas at traders protesting an increase in import duties in central Nairobi, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The demonstrations on Friday disrupted parts of the capital and led many businesses to close as participants marched toward parliament to oppose the new customs valuation benchmark set by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

The KRA said the higher duty, which took effect last week, is meant to curb under-declaration and undervaluation of imported goods and to protect compliant businesses and local manufacturers. Under the change, the minimum customs benchmark for a consolidated 40-foot container rose to 3.2 million Kenyan shillings from 2.5 million shillings. Traders argued that the added costs would make imports more expensive and place smaller firms at risk, especially those that depend on shared shipments to lower expenses.

One trader told Reuters that the protest was about protecting the right to do business and plan for the future. Al Jazeera’s reporting from Nairobi said the action unfolded amid broader public frustration over the cost of living and business pressures, with many Kenyans feeling they are paying more while getting less in return.

The KRA also said the 3.2 million shilling figure is a reference point rather than a fixed price for every shipment; importers whose goods exceed that value must declare the actual amount and pay the relevant duties.