Traders Launch Demonstrations in Nairobi CBD Over High Taxation

 By Christopher mbiti 

NAIROBI, Kenya — August 28, 2026

 Traders have taken to the streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District to protest what they describe as high taxation and rising costs of doing business, with several businesses closing their doors as demonstrations intensified.

The protests, captured in the accompanying images, have seen traders and other small-scale business operators march through parts of the CBD, carrying placards, whistles and other protest items as they voice their frustrations over taxation policies.

At the centre of the latest dispute is the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) revision of the minimum customs benchmark for consolidated cargo from Sh2.5 million to Sh3.2 million for a 40-foot container. The increase represents a Sh700,000, or 28 per cent, rise. 


Traders, particularly those dealing in imported goods, argue that the higher benchmark will increase the cost of clearing merchandise and further squeeze already thin profit margins.

The demonstrations began in areas including Kamukunji, Gikomba and Nyamakima, with protesters heading towards the KRA offices at Times Tower. Several businesses along major CBD streets, including Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue and Tom Mboya Street, were reported closed as the protests unfolded. 

Police officers were deployed in parts of the city, and reports indicate that tear gas was used to disperse some protesters as they marched towards KRA offices. 

The traders maintain that the revised customs valuation will make it increasingly difficult for small businesses to survive, warning that the additional costs could ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher prices.

KRA, however, has sought to clarify that the Sh3.2 million figure is a minimum customs benchmark and not a flat tax payable by every importer. The authority says importers can have their goods assessed based on their actual value and can also opt for physical verification or de-consolidation where applicable. 

The protests come amid broader concerns among Kenyan traders over taxation, import costs and the overall business environment.

Ends.

Photos: Masazu pixels 

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