InsiderBLM Africa
After two weeks of disorderly street protests, Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga declared on Sunday that he would suspend his protest on Monday and instead start a dialogue with the government.
Since anti-government protests began on March 20, three people have died, and homes, businesses, and other properties have been looted, alarming neighbors and allies of a nation seen as a stable democracy in a volatile region.
Odinga called for demonstrations twice a week and warned that his supporters would “take back the country” on “Mega Monday” on April 3. He has accused President William Ruto of stealing last year’s elections.
But on the night before the march, Ruto suggested they form a bipartisan parliamentary committee to address issues with the electoral process, and Odinga announced he was canceling it.
“We call off our protests for Monday, which falls on April 3, 2023. But in doing so, we want to emphasize that our constitution’s guarantees of the freedoms to assemble, protest, petition, and speak are unwavering “In a press conference held in the evening, Odinga told reporters.
In the event that this process is unsuccessful, his party “reserves the right to call for demonstrations,” he added.
If Hon. (Honorable) Ruto does not engage meaningfully with us or respond to our counter-offer, we resolve to resume our demonstrations after a week.
Ruto earlier urged Odinga to use parliament rather than the streets in a speech to the nation earlier that day.
He urged Kenyans to maintain peace and abide by the law, saying, “I urge my brother Raila Odinga, and the opposition, to call off the demonstrations, and to give this bipartisan approach a chance for us to take the country forward.”
“A great deal of trouble”
Odinga claims the election was rigged and released new evidence this weekend that he claims proves he won. The Kenyan Supreme Court unanimously upheld the results of the elections in August that made Ruto president.
The steadfast member of the opposition, who has lost five presidential elections, refused to acknowledge Ruto or his administration and demanded on Saturday that he “vacate his office” in advance of the demonstration on Monday.
Ruto urged his rival to take advantage of the chance to form a bipartisan parliamentary committee to look into electoral process reforms.
But he refused to form any kind of alliance with his adversary.
“You are in for a lot of trouble once you compromise accountability and oversight,” Ruto warned.
“Our stance is that we want to interact with our counterparts on the other side about issues that are significant to Kenyans. The checks and balances system is maintained in this way.”
In East Africa, Kenya is regarded as a model of democratic stability. Several foreign governments, including the US and the UK, have publicly urged restraint.
The African Union has also called for a peaceful resolution to the unrest that resulted in protesters being attacked by riot police with tear gas and water cannons, as well as the arson of houses of worship, buildings, businesses, and automobiles.
According to the Media Council of Kenya, there have been at least 25 reports of attacks on journalists “at the hands of state and non-state actors” during the protests.
The reports have “deeply concerned” the US, which stated on Friday.
