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With Kenyans taking to the streets on Thursday, June 20, to protest against the proposed tax increase in Finance Bill 2024, the hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024 became one of the most trending topics worldwide with over 1.8 million posts.
The hashtag was among the most trending topics in the United States, Canada, Qatar and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Other countries where #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended were Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Australia, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
With the demonstrations continuing in most parts of the country, the #RejectFinanceBill2024 is expected to trend in more nations.
In the United States, it was the fourth most trending topic below Happy Summer Solstice, Kendrick and Good Thursday.
In Canada, the hashtag was 19th in the trending list although it had more posts than all other topics combined.
The hashtag was particularly popular in Gulf Countries owing to the large number of Kenyans who work in the Middle East.
For example in Qatar, #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended in second position as well as in Dubai. UAE.
In East Africa, Tanzania showed the highest solidarity with Kenyan demonstrators as #RejectFinanceBill2024 was the top trending topic in the country.
It should be remembered on Tuesday, Tanzania Foreign Affairs Minister January Makamba had kind words for Kenyan protestors terming the demonstrations as the hallmark of democracy.
In neighbouring Uganda, #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended at number 7 below #WorldRefugeeDay, Croatia, Netherlands and other topics.
While the hashtag performed averagely in Uganda, in Rwanda it was the second most trending topic after TVET and above Kendrick.
For Ethiopia, #RejectFinanceBill2024 was the fourth most trending topic while in South Sudan it was the first.
In Australia which has a significant Kenyan population, #RejectFinanceBill2024 trended at 18th position.
Notably, #RejectFinanceBill2024 did not feature in the top 20 trending topics in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom despite the countries having a huge population of Kenyans as well as close ties with Kenya.
