Nairobi — Schools in Kenya's two main cities will remain closed Wednesday following planned protests by the Opposition over a high cost of living crisis.

The announcement on the closure of schools in the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa was made late Tuesday by Cabinet Secretaries of Interior Kithure Kindiki and his Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu.

"The government has received credible security intelligence that criminal elements planning to unleash terror and violence on the public tomorrow (Wednesday) intend to engage in armed skirmishes with security agencies around certain schools within Nairobi and Mombasa," they said in a statement.

Nine people died in violent clashes on Wednesday last week in parts of the country as demonstrators called to protest by opposition leader Raila Odinga marched in defiance of a government ban. Six others had been killed in similar protests the previous week.

Odinga has called for more protests from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday against the high cost of living occasioned by the Finance Act signed by the president.

Odinga, who insists last year's presidential election won by President William Ruto was "stolen", initiated a string of rallies this year against a government he says is illegitimate and responsible for a cost-of-living crisis.

But President Ruto has told him off, vowing not to succumb to political pressure to share his government with a "loser".

"I want to tell Raila Odinga that elections ended on August 8 last year. You can't seek the leadership of our country through bloodshed, deaths, and destruction of property. There is no way you will change Kenya through the route you have taken," Ruto declared.