Nairobi, Kenya
CNN
—
Kenyan opposition chief and former prime minister Raila Odinga has known as for weekly nationwide protests towards the excessive price of dwelling, in a quick tackle to demonstrators flanking his motorcade in Nairobi Monday.
Moments earlier than, police fired tear fuel and water cannons at his automotive as they blocked his supporters from getting into Serena Resort in Nairobi, the place he was as a result of give a information convention, his senior adviser Makau Mutua informed CNN.
Police then blocked his automotive from accessing the Central Enterprise District, the place protesters have clashed with police since morning, forcing the chief to relocate to a different space of Nairobi.
“We will use all accessible, peaceable, and constitutional means to vindicate our rights,” Odinga stated from the sunroof of his automotive.
Afterward, Odinga drove round Nairobi alongside protesters following his motorcade, which has been repeatedly tear-gassed.
A whole lot of individuals throughout the nation have taken to the streets to protest towards the excessive price of each day life.
Police arrested protesters, together with senior opposition politicians, as demonstrations escalated by mid-day native time Monday.
Odinga, who misplaced the presidential election for a fifth time in August, known as for nationwide protests to show towards what he claims, with out proof, is an illegitimate authorities that stole the election.
Kilifi county senator Stewart Madzayo and Ugunja sub-county lawmaker Opiyo Wandayi have been amongst these arrested and held in Nairobi, in response to Odinga’s senior adviser Mutua. Six different officers have been additionally arrested within the capital, he confirmed to CNN, including the social gathering was nonetheless making an attempt to evaluate the variety of arrests.
Members of Odinga’s social gathering accused police of disrupting what they stated have been peaceable protests and demanded authorities instantly launch the arrested politicians.
Police clashed with protesters in Nairobi’s metropolis middle, with companies within the metropolis middle shuttered for the day, and in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, the place Odinga has substantial help. Clashes have been reported within the metropolis of Kisumu, in western Kenya, which is taken into account a stronghold for Odinga.
Excessive inflation and hovering meals costs within the nation has led to a cost-of-living disaster for a lot of in Kenya. “We are going to maintain the protests [beyond Monday] till we get what we deserve,” Mutua stated.
A spokesperson for the Kenyan police couldn’t be instantly reached.
