Businesses in Embu Town have remained closed today due to the planned nationwide anti-fuel protests called by a section of online activists.
Many businesses owners opted to close down their premises with some not opening at all as a precaution against chaos and looting that have characterized past protests.
Tension was high with heavy deployment of anti-riot police within the Central Business District (CBD) to suppress the protests.
The police managed to disperse a small group that had started gathering in readiness for the protests and arrested a few of the protesters.
Traders have expressed concern over business losses as the planned protests took toll on their daily commercial activities.
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Embu Branch Chair, Mugo Mate, voiced concern over the impact of the protests on the local economy.
He called on the Government to carry out a comprehensive review of fuel taxes and levies to cushion Kenyans against the ripple effect of high fuel prices on basic commodities.
Mate called for scrapping of some of the levies such as road maintenance levy and excise duty that account for nearly half of the pump prices.
He appealed to the National Assembly and the Senate to prioritize legislative reforms to address the high cost of fuel instead of resulting to temporary and unsustainable subsidies.
By Samuel Waititu
