Kenya’s main opposition party on Monday announced that it has decided to resume anti-government protests from May 2, nearly three weeks after suspending rallies following a request by President William Ruto, reported Reuters.
“We will resume the demos May 2,” said Dennis Onyango the spokesperson for opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Onyango added that the protests will remain confined to Nairobi.
Last month, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s leading opposition leader called for protests over high living costs and alleged election fraud. He had organized bi-weekly demonstrations on Mondays and Thursdays since March 20.
During three days of chaotic anti-government street demonstrations, three people lost their lives, while businesses and property were torched and vandalized. The authorities informed that two civilians were killed by suspected police fire in Kisumu, while a police officer died from injuries sustained in clashes in the city.
Earlier this month, Odinga announced a suspension of the protests after President Ruto called for talks to discuss the issues. Kenya’s president called for the creation of a bipartisan parliamentary committee to work through concerns over the electoral process. However, President Ruto ruled out any alliance with his rival.
Mr. Odinga welcomed Mr. Ruto’s call for talks, but warned that protests could resume if there was no progress.
The international community and Kenya’s religious leaders have appealed for calm fearing that the situation could lead to ethnic violence such as that seen after the 2007-08 elections, which left more than 1,100 people dead.
Notably, Odinga, who was running for the fifth time for the presidential post, is still contesting the results of the August 9, 2022, presidential election, despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of his appeal.
According to official figures published by Kenya’s electoral commission, Odinga lost to Ruto by about 233 000 votes, one of the narrowest margins in Kenyan history.
