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Demonstrations in Kenya: tear gas fired at the convoy of the main opponent

2023-03-20T13:02:48.399Z


Kenyan police on Monday fired tear gas in Nairobi against a convoy of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who had called for...


Kenyan police on Monday fired tear gas in Nairobi at a convoy of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who had called for protests against inflation, banned by authorities, amid clashes between protesters and government forces. 'order.

Raila Odinga, who continues to claim that the very close presidential election of August 9, 2022 was "

stolen

" from him and that the government of William Ruto is "

illegitimate

“, wanted to organize a press conference in a hotel in the Kenyan capital.

But the press conference could not be held and the opponent's convoy was then blocked by the police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse it.

Pitched battles also broke out between stone-throwing protesters and security forces using tear gas and water cannons in some parts of the capital and in at least one other city, AFP correspondents have noted.

Protest organizers had planned to march to State House, the presidential palace, in central Nairobi, where around 20 protesters were arrested.

Among those arrested are two parliamentarians, Stewart Madzayo, Senate Minority Leader, and MP Opiyo Wandayi, both members of Mr. Odinga's party.

"

We came here peacefully, but they threw tear gas at us

," said protester Charles Oduor.

They lie to us every day.

Where's the cheap corn flour they promised?

Where are the youth jobs they promised?

All they do is hire their friends

added the 21-year-old.

This is the first major unrest since William Ruto came to power.

In Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum, protesters set fire to tires and police used water cannons, according to AFP journalists.

Clashes also erupted in Kisumu, western Kenya, another stronghold of Raila Odinga.

Raila Odinga calls for protests every Monday

The leader of the opposition called on Monday for demonstrations every week against inflation, also referring to a "

war

", while rallies oppose protesters and police, particularly in Nairobi.

Every Monday there will be a strike, there will be a demonstration.

The war has started, it will not end until Kenyans

get their rights

,” said Raila Odinga.

Price spike

Our victory was stolen from us and we are determined to get it back.

We cannot sit idly by as life gets harder and harder.

We want Raila at State House

,” said a protester in Kisumu, Kevin Ojwang.

This protest movement against inflation, which rose to 9.2% in February over one year in the East African country, was banned by the authorities on Sunday.

Kenyans are also suffering from the sharp fall in the shilling against the US dollar and a record drought that has plunged millions into starvation.

We want to ask the organizers to reflect, to put an end to the chaos so that those who have not opened their businesses and stores do so this afternoon,

” Vice President Rigathi Gachagua said, saying the protests had already lost 2 billion shillings, about 14 million euros.

Despite the ban, demonstrators gathered to protest the cost of living.

Life is so hard.

Look at these young men and women, we don't have jobs, people are losing their jobs.

That's why we come to talk about our rights

,” explains Henry Juma, 26, a shoe shiner.

"Strong test"

Leading Kenyan newspaper

The Standard

summed up the tension with the headline on Monday: "

The day of the showdown

."

Many businesses in Nairobi were closed before the protests and some companies had asked their employees to favor teleworking.

The head of state had risen this weekend against calls to demonstrate from his opponent.

You are not going to threaten us with ultimatums, chaos and impunity.

We will not allow it ,” said William Ruto, asking Raila Odinga to act through “

legal and constitutional

” means

.

According to the official results, Mr Odinga lost to Mr Ruto by some 233,000 votes, one of the narrowest margins in the country's history, and despite being supported in this poll by incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The appeal brought by Raila Odinga, who was running for the fifth time at the head of the country and complained of fraud, was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-03-20

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