Kenyan Small Traders Plan Nationwide Shutdown on August 28 Over Tax Hikes

Traders are mobilizing for a nationwide shutdown and demonstration to protest excessive taxation and a 28 percent hike in the customs valuation benchmark, raising it from KSh 2.5 million to KSh 3.2 million per container.

They argue these layered levies and duties are eroding thin margins, forcing closures, and threatening jobs in communities reliant on small businesses.

The 'Businesses Under Siege' campaign calls for fair taxes through dialogue, building on earlier protests and recent cargo clearance suspensions, as traders emphasize their role in Kenya's economy while demanding viable policies.