President William Ruto's government has introduced a new Finance Bill, a move that has drawn parallels to the contentious 2024 Gen Z uprising. This legislative proposal reintroduces a comprehensive range of taxes on numerous everyday goods and services, echoing the fiscal policies that previously ignited widespread public discontent, which resulted in significant protests and severe consequences, including casualties among demonstrators and the burning of Parliament.

The newly unveiled Finance Bill targets a broad spectrum of items and activities, imposing new levies on essential consumer products. Among the items subject to these new taxes are mobile phones, bottled water, coal, and plastic basins. Furthermore, the bill extends its reach to financial transactions, introducing a tax on every swipe of a credit card.

This reintroduction of sweeping taxes on common goods and services is seen by many as a potential catalyst for renewed public opposition, given its strong resemblance to the policies that fueled the prior Gen Z-led demonstrations. The comprehensive nature of these proposed taxes, impacting a wide array of daily necessities and financial activities, underscores the significant economic burden they could place on citizens.