Recent protests in Kenya, fueled by a sharp rise in fuel prices, are indicative of deeper underlying economic and political issues, rather than being solely about the cost of living.

• The protests highlight concerns about government revenue collection, which is heavily reliant on fuel taxes to service Kenya's debt, reportedly consuming 70% of tax collections.
• Underlying issues of unemployment, hopelessness, and exclusion, which were the cause of 2024 protests, remain unaddressed.
• A notable aspect of the demonstrations was the apparent fear and curtailment of free information sharing, suggesting a potential link to upcoming 2027 polls.