Kenyan Youth Harness Tech to Amplify #RejectFinanceBill2024 Movement

Young Kenyans Amplify #RejectFinanceBill2024: One of the biggest protests in Kenya is ongoing. Young Kenyans are on the streets protesting against the increased taxation by the government. The increased tax is included in the 2024 Finance Bill. The government aims to raise an additional $2.5 billion (Sh323bn) in taxes in the financial year beginning in July. The taxes imposed are now been rejected by the youths. 

Young Kenyans Amplify #RejectFinanceBill2024 With Tech

Kenyan youths are standing up against this taxation and making their voices heard.  They themed the protests “Occupy Parliament” and ‘’Reject Finance Bill’’. These hashtags are trending on the Kenyan side of the internet. 

They are also making use of various forms of technology to make their voices heard during the rallies. 

One form of technology is the Zello channel. This is where Kenyans share their location, photos of protests, and emergency contact.  

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The downloaded Zello app has a channels tab where the #RejectFinanceBill2024 can be joined through a QR code.

There’s also a *665*971# USSD available that lists and updates meetup points. It also provides updated reading materials to spread awareness and offer direct lines to emergency services. 

Young Kenyans Protest On Social Media 

Young Kenyans Amplify #RejectFinanceBill2024 using the social platforms. They’re also breaking down the finance bill in different vernacular languages and sharing the videos via WeeTransfer. The idea is to make sure concerns raised around the bill reach as many people as possible.

However, it seems X is suppressing the #RejectFinanceBill2024 hashtag on its platforms. 

The Finance Bill 2024 proposes punitive tax measures including 16 % VAT on bread, taxes on foreign exchange transactions and financial services, as well as a 2.5 % Motor Vehicle tax.