Kenya police fire tear gas to disperse traders protesting import duty hike

Kenya police deployed tear gas to disperse small-scale traders protesting an import duty hike, according to a Reuters witness on Friday. The demonstration took place as hundreds of businesses closed in central Nairobi. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) announced the decision to raise the duty on August 20, citing the need to curb under-declaration and undervaluation of imports, which the KRA argued disadvantages compliant businesses and local manufacturers.

Traders contend that the new duty would increase the cost of clearing goods and harm small businesses that rely on consolidated shipments to lower import costs. Muturi Kariuki, a trader involved in the protests, stated, "We are standing for our citizenship and our right to do business and our right to build our future." Some traders closed their businesses to protest, while others did so for safety reasons.

Police did not immediately respond to inquiries. The duty change increases the minimum customs benchmark for a consolidated 40-foot container from 2.5 million Kenyan shillings to 3.2 million shillings ($24,700). The KRA clarified that the 3.2 million shilling figure is a minimum reference point, not a fixed value for every container.

Importers must declare the actual worth of goods exceeding the threshold and pay the applicable duties.