Kenya opposition chief calls for weekly protests

NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya's veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga called Monday for weekly protests, as clashes erupted between police and supporters demonstrating over the country's cost-of-living crisis.

"Every Monday there will be a strike, there will be a demonstration," he told crowds of chanting followers in Nairobi. "The war has begun, it will not end until Kenyans get their rights."

"Are you ready?" he said to cheers from his supporters.   

Odinga had called Monday's demonstrations against the government of President William Ruto in protest at soaring prices of basic goods in Kenya and what he said was last year's "stolen" election.

The opposition leader narrowly lost his fifth tilt at the presidency in the August poll despite being backed by former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Riot police had earlier fired tear gas and water cannon on Odinga's motorcade near a Nairobi hotel, where he had been due to hold a press conference before being forced to leave.

Kenyans are suffering from surging prices for basic necessities, as well as a sharp drop in the shilling against the US dollar and a record drought that has left millions hungry.

Odinga said he had called the rallies to protest the "skyrocketing" cost of living but also the "stolen" election last August.