Kenyan police fire teargas at protesters marching against finance bill

A plain clothes police officer attempts to detain an activist, amid teargas, during a march to call on lawmakers to reject the finance bill proposed by the government that would raise taxes across the economy, along Harambee avenue in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Kenyan police fired tear gas near parliament on Tuesday at hundreds of people protesting a proposed finance bill that would hike taxes on fuel, housing and digital content.

President William Ruto, who won election last August on a platform of helping the poor, is under pressure to raise revenues in East Africa's economic powerhouse in the face of rising debt repayments.