BREAD REVOLUTIONS -THE TAX INGREDIENT

Bread is at the heart of politics across the world. It represents labour, life and livelihoods. Ruling classes down the ages have always offered 'bread and circuses' to keep a lid on mass discontent over unpopular policies. Kenya's President William Ruto seems to have skipped a lesson on keeping citizens pacified when he attempted to ram through unpopular IMF-backed tax hikes, including a proposed 16% hike on bread. The IMF had warned Ruto's administration that implementing steep tax hikes would spark civil unrest but urged the president to push ahead anyway. It set off a series of violent protests in which police officers reportedly killed more than 60. Ruto relented and declined to sign the bill. However, parts of the bill are reportedly being sneaked in.

African Stream's Erick Gavala brushed up on his baking skills and takes us on a journey - from the oven to street protests, where much of history is fermented.

Written by @kenneth_kaigua and presented by @erickgavala