Small-scale traders in Nairobi have taken to the streets to protest the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) revised customs valuation benchmark, which has sparked tensions with police. The new rule raises the minimum reference point for general containerized cargo from Ksh2.5 million to Ksh3.2 million, a change that traders argue will further burden their already struggling businesses.
Local representatives, including Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, have criticized the move as “inhuman and unwise,” warning it could harm small traders facing high operating costs. Demonstrations in the Central Business District (CBD) turned violent as police used tear gas to disperse protesters, leading to clashes and arrests.
The protests follow weeks of growing frustration over rising taxes and regulatory changes. Traders claim the new benchmark makes it harder for them to compete, especially with the entry of Chinese traders into the market. Some have called for urgent government intervention to ease the financial pressure on local businesses.
Authorities have not yet commented on the impact of the protests, but the situation highlights ongoing tensions between regulatory reforms and the economic challenges faced by small traders in Kenya.
