Africa news
Raila Odinga’s car tear gassed amid first day of protests
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga’s supporters demonstrated in Nairobi and other parts of the country criticizing the high cost of living, alleged electoral irregularities and alleged corruption in the government of president Ruto.
Kenyan police dispersed demonstrators in Nairobi with tear gas and water cannons and at least one person was shot.
However Raila Odinga’s motorcade was targeted with tear gas as it approached the Kenyatta International Conference Center.
One of the protesters we managed to interview by the name of Simon Akamai told our media that he traveled from Machakos county to Nairobi to participate in the protest.
He said he was demonstrating against the high prices of maize flour and to demand the electoral commission open its servers.
However we managed to hook up with another protester Petit Musa who told our media that Ruto’s government must prove it won the election fairly.
He further added that he demand both manual and electronic presidential results to be released so people can tell whether the Ruto government was legitimate.
He concluded saying that he was demanding the government to lower the prices of food. However following the concluded presidential elections in Kenya Ruto defeated Odinga by a narrow margin.
The Kenyan Supreme Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the the election was rigged though Odinga still maintains the electoral commission wrongly denied him the presidency.
Mr Rigathi Gacbagua the deputy president of Kenya said Monday’s protests brought business down in central of Nairobi.
“ this morning because of lack of business in the CBD the country has lost almost 2 billion shillings in terms of business and this is money that should. E circulating in the economy and we urge these people to consider calling off the chaos,the mayhem ,the intimidation because what they are doing they are destroying our economy….”
However Opiyo Wandayi the opposition member of parliament when reached out told our media that protest will go on.
“It will be extremely successful and this will go on indefinitely.he added that there was no end time till all the demands are met.”