Nairobi Traders and Business Communities jam the streets of Nairobi on August 28, 2026 protesting over high taxation. [Boniface Okendo,Standard]
Businesses in Nairobi City Centre, Kamukunji area and Eastleigh were on Friday shut down as traders protested what they term punitive tax increase on goods by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
The traders marched to the city to present their petition to KRA claiming that their past attempts to bring the taxman on the table for negotiations have been futile.
Their efforts were however thwarted after anti-riot police lobbed teargears on the traders to disperse them from accessing the Times Towers and Parliament buildings.
Currently, there traders say that import of a container carrying assorted goods stands at 3.2 million shillings up from initial 2.5 million shillings that they were paying until the new rates came to effect a few weeks ago.
They argue owing to the increase, they are no longer able to make any proceeds as the cost of importing goods is no longer affordable.
Thus Several businesses within the city including Luthuli Avenue, Tom Mboya, Moi Avenue and other streets remained closed for the better part of the day.