By Abia Noumbissi
At least two people are confirmed dead in Kenya as anti-government protests continue into its third day. It is the third round of demonstrations the opposition party, Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party, led by Raila Odinga, has called for this month.
Odinga’s party has accused the ruling party, the Kwanza coalition, of being out of touch. “In Kenya Kwanza’s view, the cost of living is not so high to warrant protests. Kenya Kwanza doesn’t know how angry and hungry Kenyans are.”
On the first day, demonstrators threw rocks at police and burned tires while the military, deployed by the government fired tired gas into the crowds.
Local news channel Citizen TV reported that two people have been hospitalized for gunshot wounds in Migoiri town in Western Kenya, another person was shot and killed in Makueni and four people have been shot in the capital, Nairobi, with no updates on their conditions.
Police have also arrested at least 300 people as protests began all over the country, including nine senior opposition leaders according to the interior ministry. Those arrested will be charged with crimes such as looting, malicious damage, and arson. Schools and businesses have been shut in Nairobi as well as Mombasa and Kisumu over fears of increasing violence, with police also setting up checkpoints on all roads leading to President William Ruto’s residence.
President Ruto was elected last August and pledged to “champion interests of the poor”, however since then the prices of basic products have risen and last month the government increased taxes across multiple industries including fuel and housing. Citing that they would help deal with the growing debt repayments and fund job-creation initiatives.
“It doesn’t seem like things will be better, you see [the president] lied to us, we are being oppressed, and things are becoming difficult. When the cost of fuel goes up, the price of everything else goes up, even electricity. Things are becoming worse.” Said James Wainaina when interviewed by the BBC.
Churches and human rights groups have called on Ruto and Odinga to resolve their issues through diplomatic efforts and put an end to these protests.
Reminding them that at least 15 people were killed and hundreds arrested during protests earlier this month and that protests this year alone have cost the economy more than $20 million per day. However many church leaders have said that the tax increases should be repealed which seems unlikely at this time.
Opposition leaders have also called for demonstrations to continue into tomorrow and possibly the weekend.
