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

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters. Published On 28 Aug 202628 Aug 2026.

Key points

• Kenya's revenue authority remarked the 3.2 million shilling figure was a minimum reference point, ‌not a fixed value for every container.
• As hundreds of businesses closed ⁠in central Nairobi, police in Kenya have fired tear gas at small-scale traders who are protesting against a hike in import duties.
• Kenya's revenue authority notes the higher import duty – which took effect last week – is designed to tackle the under-declaration and undervaluation of imported goods.
• While others did so for safety reasons, according to traders, kariuki was among the traders ⁠who closed their businesses so as to protest.
• "There is deep mistrust in the government and a widespread perception that corruption is worse than ever, " he remarked.

Meanwhile, the demonstrations on Friday brought parts of the capital city to a standstill, with tear gas hurled at protesters frustrated with the rising cost of living and business expenses.

Kenya's revenue authority notes the higher import duty – which took effect last week – is designed to tackle the under-declaration and undervaluation of imported goods. It it stated disadvantages compliant businesses and local manufacturers.

Notably, the duty change raises the minimum customs benchmark ⁠for a consolidated 40-foot (12-metre) container to ⁠3.2 million Kenyan shillings ($24, 700) from 2.5 million ($19, 320) shillings.

For context, the traders remarked the extra charges will drive up the cost of bringing goods into the country and hurt small businesses that rely on consolidated shipments to reduce import costs.

"We are standing for our citizenship and our right to do business and our right to build our future, " Muturi Kariuki, who joined the ⁠demonstrations, informed the Reuters news agency.

Reporting for Al Jazeera from Nairobi, where traders were marching to parliament to obtain their message throughout, Malcolm Webb noted the protests "come at a time where many Kenyans are frustrated with the rising cost of living, a feeling that they are being asked to give more, getting less in return".

Kenya's revenue authority remarked the 3.2 million shilling figure was a minimum reference point, ‌not a fixed value for every container. Importers whose goods exceed that value have to declare their actual ‌worth ‌and pay the applicable duties.

In short, kenyan police fire tear gas at Nairobi protest against import duty hike is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.