‘Our Businesses Are Dying’: Kamukunji, Eastleigh Traders Stage Demos at KRA Over Tax Raids
Business owners from Kamukunji and Eastleigh took to the streets on Friday, July 17, staging protests outside the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) headquarters at Times Tower along Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi. The traders, holding placards and carrying twigs, chanted slogans as they voiced their frustration over what they termed excessive taxation.
They accused KRA of imposing policies that are hurting small businesses, leading to losses and job cuts. The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of KRA Commissioner General Adan Mohamed if their concerns are not addressed promptly.
Speaking during the protest, one trader said the KRA leadership should focus on creating a conducive environment for businesses instead of showing bias against traders. “KRA must foster unity to protect businesses.
Profiling regional traders and creating internal friction within the authority only repeats past mistakes that damaged key local industries,” said one of the protesters. The traders further alleged that small-scale businesses in Kamukunji and Eastleigh have been subjected to frequent raids by KRA, which they claimed are threatening thousands of livelihoods.
“Small family shops in Kamukunji are facing raids under the KRA Commissioner General. This high-handedness is choking local trade and destroying jobs. We need a fair administrative partner,” another protester claimed.
The demonstrators urged KRA to review its approach and engage traders through dialogue, arguing that fair taxation and predictable tax practices are essential for the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The protest comes despite recent engagements between KRA and representatives of the business community in Eastleigh aimed at resolving tax compliance concerns. In April 2026, KRA and Eastleigh business owners reached an agreement after a consultative meeting where concerns were raised over the low adoption of the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS).
KRA Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers George Obell said limited uptake of eTIMS and the failure by some businesses to issue electronic invoices had affected transaction transparency across the country. “Many businesses source goods from Eastleigh but face challenges in obtaining eTIMS invoices, which are critical for expense claims. We will support traders to register on eTIMS,” Obell said.
During the engagement, Deputy Commissioner for Tax Base Expansion Esther Wahome urged all businesses to embrace eTIMS, noting that the system is mandatory for all traders, not just VAT-registered businesses.
Wahome also announced the rollout of a USSD platforms which allows taxpayers to register for taxes, onboard eTIMS, file returns, and make tax payments using their mobile phones.
