By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI
Kenya
Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has held several rounds of protests since March against the government, alarming the international community which has joined calls for a political solution after earlier demonstrations left more than a dozen dead.
Fully armed police officer being chased by protesters in Nairobi City |
Clashes between police and
protesters led to two deaths in the opposition bastion of Kisumu, said George
Rae, CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga hospital.
"There are two bodies
recorded at the morgue with gunshot wounds," he told AFP by telephone,
adding that 14 others were hospitalised.
Odinga's Azimio alliance has
vowed to stage three straight days of protests this week, and on Wednesday
evening urged "Kenyans to come out in an even bigger way tomorrow".
Although Wednesday's protests
in Nairobi and other towns appeared to be more muted than earlier
demonstrations, with fewer reports of casualties resulting from sporadic
clashes, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said the authorities had recorded
many cases of vandalism and looting.
"More than 300 people
have been arrested across the country and will be charged with various crimes,
including looting, malicious damage of property, arson, robbery with violence,
assaulting law enforcers," Kindiki said.
Schools and shops were closed in Nairobi, Kisumu and the port city of Mombasa, with small groups of mostly young men setting fire to tyres and engaging in running battles with police.
Police fired tear gas at
scattered groups of demonstrators in Nairobi's Kibera slum and the towns of
Homa Bay, Kisii and Migori, all Odinga strongholds, while offices in the
capital's business district were largely shuttered.
It is the third time this
month that Odinga has staged mass rallies against a government he says is
illegitimate and responsible for a cost-of-living crisis.
The government in turn has
accused the opposition of derailing efforts to improve the economy and
fomenting chaos.
"We do not want a country
of violence or fighting or destruction of property," President William
Ruto said during a visit to the Rift Valley town of Kericho.
"The police must make
sure they are firm on criminals, gangs and anarchists and all the people who
want to cause mayhem."
The use by police of live
rounds and tear gas to disperse stone-throwing protesters has drawn accusations
of heavy-handedness from civil groups.
Last week police arrested 312
people who were accused of directly or indirectly planning, orchestrating or
financing the protests, including a member of parliament who was later
released.
The demonstrations have
divided Kenyans, who are struggling to cope with high inflation and a jobs
crisis.
Fred Onzere, a 47-year-old unemployed man, told AFP Kenya was "going in the wrong direction" and said he supported the protests.
Others said the shutdowns
would only worsen the economic problems.
"Even if we are
(employed)... we can't work," said businessman Peter Kajinji, 62.
"It's better for our leaders to sit together, talk and solve this problem," he told AFP.
Ruto, a former deputy
president, rose to the top job after winning a narrow election victory last
August over Odinga, who claimed the vote was "stolen".
But he took office as Kenya's
economy reeled from debt and soaring inflation, and was criticised for raising
taxes despite campaigning to bring prices down.
Kenya is seen as a stable
democracy in the often-turbulent East Africa region, and 13 western nations
issued a joint statement on Tuesday expressing concern over the recent
violence.
"We... urge all parties
to table their concerns through a meaningful dialogue and resolve their
differences peacefully to build the nation together, ensuring no further loss
of life," the foreign missions said.
Opposition protests following
Odinga's election loss in 2017 continued until he brokered a surprise pact with
his erstwhile foe, former president Uhuru Kenyatta, that became known as
"the handshake".
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