As Kenya approaches Nanenane, a day for celebrating farmers, this year’s events will be different. Farmers plan to protest on August 8th against new bills. These bills include the finance bill, livestock bill, and agriculture bill. Farmers believe these laws will hurt their work and lives.
The finance bill adds new taxes on seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. Farmers say these taxes will make farming more expensive. They worry they won’t be able to compete in markets. The livestock bill brings stricter rules for keeping animals. Farmers think these rules are too hard to follow. The agriculture bill gives the government more control over farming and land use.
On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #Nanenanematch is trending. Farmers, activists, and citizens are using it to show support for the protest. Many posts talk about how the bills will harm small farmers.
Farmers are speaking out too. A maize farmer from Nakuru, said,
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A dairy farmer from Nyeri, said,
The protest is expected to attract thousands of farmers from across the country. Many supporters from cities plan to join too. Various groups, like farmer cooperatives, civil society groups, and trade unions, support the protest.
Young people, especially Gen Z, are also joining the protest. They are organizing through social media. They plan to meet at Uhuru Park in Nairobi at 9 AM. From there, they will march to Parliament Buildings to join the main protest. A youth leader said, “Our generation understands the importance of agriculture for our future. These bills not only affect farmers today but will also impact food security and employment opportunities for us tomorrow. We need to stand up and be heard.”
The protest will start with marches in major towns and cities. It will end with a rally where leaders will speak. Organizers are asking for a peaceful protest. They want participants to follow the law and work with the police.
Extra security will be in place to keep everyone safe. More police will be on the streets, and there will be traffic diversions to manage the crowds.
As Kenya prepares for Nanenane, the planned protest adds tension to the day’s events. This year’s Nanenane will be a time for farmers and young people to voice their concerns and demand fair treatment. The result of this protest could change the future of farming in Kenya.