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A man in Nyahururu was arrested after he climbed up a communication tower situated at the Nyahururu police station in protest of the high cost of living.

Witnesses who spoke to a local publication said the distraught man stated that he was protesting because he was frustrated by his inability to fend for his family since he had reached rock bottom.

The aggrieved man also decried that his wife had left him due to his financial shortcomings.

“I came here with a heavy heart, I have no means to feed my family, my wife already left me, saying that she does not seed the need to be married to someone who cannot even provide a basic meal,” he stated.

The man further threatened to jump from the tower if the government failed to address the harsh economic times.

It took the intervention of the witnesses for the man to climb down the tower. He was immediately arrested and frog-marched to the police station.

The cost of living dilemma has been a heated debate after the adoption of the Finance Bill 2023, signed to law by President William Ruto on Monday, June 26, 2023.

Quarters have decried that the Finance Act set to take effect on July 1, will burden their already-tattered pockets.

Fundamental changes that will take effect include the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), and the 1.5 per cent housing tax.

Leaders from the opposition such as Raila Odinga have vowed to mount pressure on the government to ensure that the Finance Act is repealed.

“No more talks. Having imposed on us the punitive taxation measures contained in the Finance Act 2023 in complete disregard of our views, we declare an end to the bipartisan talks to which we had sent our delegation in the hope that Kenya Kwanza could show interest in resolving pro-people issues including the rising cost of living. It is time for action,” Raila said.

“We shall convene on 7th July-Saba Saba Day- 2023, here at Kamukunji at which event we will unveil a program for nationwide civil disobedience to force the Kenya Kwanza regime to respect the people and repeal the Finance Act,” he added.