Kenyan Police Fire Tear Gas at Nairobi Traders Protesting Import Duty Hike

On August 28, 2026, Kenyan police fired tear gas at hundreds of small-scale traders marching on parliament in central Nairobi to protest a new import duty increase. Hundreds of businesses closed, bringing parts of the capital to a standstill. Kenya's revenue authority raised the minimum customs benchmark for consolidated containers by over $5,000 to curb under-declaration. Traders say the hike disproportionately hurts small businesses relying on shared-container shipping.