Ian's Blog

 In the face of growing injustice, there comes a moment when silence is no longer neutral—it becomes a weapon in the hands of oppressors. Kenya has arrived at such a moment. As peaceful protests erupt across the country—led by young, fearless citizens demanding justice, transparency, and dignity—many others remain silent. Some are afraid. Others feel hopeless. A few believe politics is not their business. But the cost of this silence is becoming too heavy to bear. This is not just about a Finance Bill. It’s about the soul of a nation. When Silence Becomes Complicity Every unjust system thrives on the inaction of the majority. Harmful policies, bloated taxes, rigged tenders, and unconstitutional decisions pass because too many citizens assume “someone else will fight.” But silence has never stopped oppression—it enables it. In recent years, Kenyans have watched quietly as: MPs passed exploitative tax policies without consulting the people who elected them Corruption cas...

 In the Kenya of today, one painful truth rings loud and clear: the average citizen is overworked, overtaxed, and overlooked—yet still expected to carry the weight of a national debt they never consented to, and from which they derive little to no benefit. Kenyans are not just hustling for daily bread anymore. They are hustling to repay debts they didn’t take, for projects they never saw, incurred by leaders they barely trust. Debt Has a Face—and It Isn’t the One Borrowing Our public debt is no longer a line item in budget documents. It’s personal. It walks into our homes in the form of skyrocketing electricity bills, fuel prices that fluctuate without logic, and taxes on everything from bread to diapers. It sits in our classrooms where children share desks, in hospitals where patients buy their own gloves, and on our roads where potholes age with dignity. Kenya’s public debt has officially crossed the KSh 10 trillion mark, but the real burden is much heavier when you include ...

  How Kenya’s lawmakers are betraying the very people they swore to serve It is often said that Members of Parliament (MPs) are “our representatives.” They come from our communities, walk among us during elections, share our struggles—at least in words—and promise to fight for our interests. But something happens when they cross into Parliament. Suddenly, the voices they amplify are not ours. Their votes begin to favor the privileged few. And just like that, they transform from representatives to enablers of oppression. The Finance Bill 2024 is the latest betrayal in a long line of decisions that prove many Kenyan MPs are no longer acting on behalf of the people. And while some argue that MPs are not the real enemy—that the Executive shoulders the blame—the truth is, complicity is just as damaging as direct harm. When you vote to burden citizens with taxes they cannot bear, you are the problem . The Finance Bill: A Litmus Test of Loyalty The Finance Bill 2024 proposed a slew of...

  The National Debt Crisis Kenya’s public debt stands at around 65–68% of GDP , totaling approximately KSh 11 trillion ($85 billion) as of March 2025—up from 67.6% in September 2024 . Annual interest payments alone consume nearly a third (about 33–64%) of government revenue , far exceeding the IMF’s recommended maximum of 30% . With such a heavy debt burden, there’s little fiscal space for essential investments. Austerity by Any Other Name? In response to mounting pressure, Parliament approved a 4.29 trillion‑shilling (~$33bn) budget for FY 2025/26 and pledged to cap the deficit at 4.5% of GDP —down from prior years’ 5.1% . Yet instead of boosting growth, the budget focuses largely on cost-cutting and compliance , with limited vision on revenue diversification and public welfare. Public Services on the Backburner Expenditure for healthcare, education, and social welfare remains stagnant or shrinking in real terms. The scorching debt service is outpacing allocations to develop...

  A Movement Like No Other In Kenya’s long history of protests—from Saba Saba to the anti-tax marches of the 1990s—most were driven by organized political groups, unions, or civil society leaders. But in 2024, something entirely different emerged. This time, it wasn’t political veterans in suits or firebrand MPs. It was teenagers, university students, digital creators, and everyday young Kenyans—the Generation Z —who spearheaded a decentralized, social-media-powered protest wave. And it all started with a hashtag: #RutoMustGo . This wasn’t just about taxes. It was about trust. A broken social contract. And a generation tired of watching their future auctioned off. From Tweets 📱 to Streets: The Rise of Gen Z Activism The Finance Bill 2024 proposed widespread tax hikes on essentials: bread, diapers, data, fuel, and salaries. While earlier protests had failed to gain traction, Gen Z seized the moment with an entirely new strategy. They mobilized not through town hall meetings or p...

In 2024, Kenyans took to the streets in protest over a proposed Finance Bill that was deemed excessively punitive and regressive. The outcry, which led to over 60 deaths and widespread unrest, forced the government to backtrack on some of the most controversial tax proposals. However, one year later, the Finance Bill 2025 has reintroduced many of the same burdens—just repackaged and in some cases, deepened. Despite being marketed as a reform-driven, administrative-efficiency tool, the 2025 bill has raised eyebrows for being stealthily harsher than its predecessor. It targets businesses, farmers, the informal sector, and even salaried workers with tighter tax rules, broader surveillance powers, and increased indirect costs. Here's how. Key Provisions: What's New and Controversial 1. Fringe Benefit Tax Raised to 30% One of the most alarming changes is the increase of Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) from 9% to 30%. This tax applies to perks such as company cars, employer-paid rent, or...

  In a country where police impunity often goes unpunished, the case of Albert Ojwang—a 31-year-old teacher and blogger—has triggered a wave of national outrage. Arrested for allegedly criticizing police leadership on social media, Albert died in custody under suspicious circumstances. An independent autopsy contradicted the official suicide narrative, instead revealing signs of physical abuse. His death, and the state response that followed, has reignited urgent questions about governance, accountability, and human rights in Kenya. What Happened: A Timeline Date Event June 6 Ojwang arrested in Homa Bay for alleged online posts about Deputy IG Eliud Lagat. June 7 Found unconscious in a Nairobi Central Police cell. June 8 Pronounced dead at Mbagathi Hospital. Initial police report: "suspected suicide." June 10 Independent autopsy reveals head trauma, neck compression—suggestive of assault. June 16 Deputy IG steps aside. Officers arrested for evidence tampering and obstructio...