Kenyan police clash with anti-government protesters
March 27, 2023
Kenyan police fired teargas and water cannon against stone-throwing anti-government protesters on Monday.
It was the second time in two weeks that protests against the government and high food prices turned violent.
The flashpoint was in the capital Nairobi where opposition leader Raila Odinga joined protesters.
One person was shot dead in the western city of Kisumu, close to Odinga's ancestral home.
"One person was shot dead. He is unknown, he is a young man," George Rae, CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital said.
Security forces also clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators in the city's largest slum Kibera, where protesters set tires ablaze while gangs attacked journalists.
Police chief Japheth Koome insists that the protests are "illegal," but Odinga says Kenyans have a right to demonstrate.
Twice-weekly protests
Odinga is hoping to channel frustrations about the increasingly high cost of living into momentum to oust President William Ruto.
He accuses the government of being illegitimate, claiming Ruto stole last year's election.
Odinga has vowed to press ahead with protests every Monday and Thursday despite a police ban on demonstrations.
"How many here are saying the price of basic commodities should go down, maize flour should go down, cooking oil, school fees and other commodities must come down?" Odinga said.
During last week's demonstrations, a university student was killed and police arrested more than 200 people, including lawmakers belonging to Odinga's faction in parliament.
Over the weekend, Ruto urged Odinga to face him directly and "stop terrorizing the country."
He was, however out of the country on Monday on an official visit to Belgium and Germany.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta's property damaged
In separate incidents, individuals raided a farm on the outskirts of the capital owned by the family of former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenyatta supported Odinga in last year's election.
Odinga's gas cylinder manufacturing business near Nairobi's central business district was also pelted with stones.
Dennis Onyango, Odinga's spokesperson, said he believed the government sent the attackers.
lo/jcg (AFP, AP, Reuters)