By Evelyn Musambi, NAIROBI
Kenya
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga has led thousands of protesters in a third round of anti-government demonstrations on Thursday as the government warned that no more violent protests would be tolerated.
The opposition is blaming
President William Ruto for the rising cost of living and alleges he illegally
manipulated his election in last year’s polls, although the Supreme Court has
upheld the validity of the election results.
Odinga says the protests will
only stop after the government lowers the cost of basic food items and allows
access to the 2022 election results from the electoral commission’s main
computers.
Ruto, who on Thursday arrived
back in the country from a four-day trip in Belgium and Germany, has remained
adamant that the ongoing protests are illegal.
Interior Minister Kithure
Kindiki, who is in charge of the police, on Wednesday said no more violent
protests would be tolerated, stating “we must halt the descent.”
U.S Senator Chris Coons on
Wednesday met Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for what the Kenyan
leader described as “strengthening ties.”
Coons also met opposition
leader Odinga for talks about “upholding the constitution and the rule of law,”
according to the Kenyan politician.
Police have been using force
to disperse protesters and so far four people are reported to have died since
the protests started last week.
Odinga said the protests will be held twice every week until the opposition’s demands are met. A governor from Odinga’s stronghold of Kisumu county had banned protests in the area but quickly rescinded and local government officials joined in Thursday’s demonstrations.
The protests have sparked
counter violence against opposition targets. Last Monday saw the destruction of
private property at former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family farm outside the
capital, Odinga’s gas cylinder manufacturing firm near the central business
district and the burning of shops in Odinga’s stronghold of Kibera slums.
The independent Policing
Oversight Authority is investigating four incidents of police shooting and
killing protesters as well allegations that police failed to respond to a report
on the damaging of private property. The authority has urged police to abide by
the law while protecting life and property.
The African Union has called
for calm and dialogue among stakeholders recalling a “successful conduct of the
general elections and confirmation of the outcome by the Supreme Court.”
Western diplomatic missions in
Kenya expressed concern over the violence and damage to places of worship and
private property.
The Media Council of Kenya
said that journalists have been attacked in the demonstrations and said it
would work closely with the police to ensure perpetrators face the law.
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