Leading the party, Julius Malema, the Economic Freedom Fighters, declared on Monday that they would back the ongoing protests in Kenya against the 2024 Finance Bill.
The South African party praised Kenyans in a statement for their brave resistance to the unfair laws that have resulted in high taxes.
Additionally, the party attacked the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), blaming them for the severe levies listed in the Finance Bill 2024 and linking them to the ongoing protests continuing in Kenya.
"The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund recommended the 2024 Finance Bill to the Kenyan government. Thus, this is a small portion of a larger issue that many developing countries face as a result of being burdened by loans from the World Bank and the IMF," the statement said in part.
Citing South Africa as an example of a country in a similar predicament, the Malema-led party claimed that foreign lenders had also granted loans with onerous terms.
According to the EFF, some of these lenders were taking advantage of underdeveloped nations, especially those in Africa, by providing multibillion-dollar loans with unfavorable consequences.
Kenyan youth received recognition for speaking up against the actions of the lenders and demanding that the government give priority to measures that will help them.
"We commend the bravery of the Kenyan protesters and stand with them in their peaceful protest against the recommendation of the World Bank and IMF to the Kenyan government to impose exploitative legislation that seeks to impose crippling tax," the statement began.
EFF and other players on the continent have expressed their thoughts regarding the protests. The African Union Commission on Human Rights this week denounced the government's proposal to hike taxes, which will impact the vast majority of Kenyans.
The commission requested that the administration look for additional sources of income. The African Union also called for the release of over 200 Kenyans who had been arrested during the protests.
Here is the link
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/101965-south-africas-julius-malema-points-fingers-imf-and-world-bank-over-kenyan-protests