Kenyan Opposition Leader Odinga Restarts Cost-of-Living Protests

Azimio leader Raila Odinga supporters in Kisumu have defied his orders that demonstrations against the cost of living be concentrated in the capital city of Nairobi, reports Capital FM.

The supporters blocked roads as early as 7AM, paralyzing transport in the lakeside city. Rawlings Okoth, a tout, said they withdrew matatu services to be in solidarity with Odinga. Businesses including supermarkets, banks and other mini shopping malls remain shut. Local leaders have kept off the demonstrators whose numbers continue to grow in leaps and bounds.

Several Azimio members of parliament have been teargassed outside Harambee House while trying to hand a petition to the Office of the President.

The petition included the four thematic areas raised by the opposition coalition including high cost living, forensic audit of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers, reinstatement of the Cherera four and reconstitution of the electoral agency.

President William Ruto slammed the protests, calling them undemocratic. Speaking during the Labour Day celebrations at Nairobi's Uhuru Gardens, Ruto reiterated that there is no room for opposition leaders in government even as proposed parliamentary-led bi-partisan talks appear to have hit a dead end.

Ruto maintains that he will execute his role of protecting the lives and property of Kenyans as he issued a warning shot to the Azimio coalition against causing chaos or destruction of property.

Ruto has stated that he urged Odinga to pursue peaceful means to address any grievances through the proposed bi-partisan parliamentary process, but the opposition chief has opted to stage demonstrations instead.

At the beginning of April 2023, Odinga called off the demonstrations to give room for dialogue between the two opposing sides. The resumption of rallies and protests has thrown the planned bipartisan talks proposed by Ruto into disarray.

The two leaders are locked in a tussle on the reconstitution of the electoral commission which the president has said will only happen under the framework of the law as established through parliament.

InFocus

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