Staff Writer
Veteran Kenyan opposition figure Raila Odinga condemned “unprecedented police violence” on Tuesday in response to recent anti-government and anti-expense demonstrations in the East African nation.
Since March, the opposition alliance Azimio has planned nine days of protests against President William Ruto’s policies, some of which have led to looting and altercations with the police. Since March, at least 50 people have died, with 20 according to official statistics, according to Azimio.
At a press conference for foreign journalists in Nairobi, Kenya, Raila Odinga stated, “We are witnessing unprecedented police violence.”
He asserted that “all the victims were unarmed” and that “police and gangs have shot and killed or wounded dozens of people at point-blank range.”
He claimed that the Luos, the ethnic group from which he is originally, were the target of the assault in particular.
President Ruto asserted on Wednesday that the police “must ensure that they are firm against criminals, gangs, anarchists, and all those who want to sow chaos” and accused the opposition of fomenting violence.
Human rights groups criticized the repression practiced by the police, who occasionally used live ammunition. Amnesty International was one of 29 NGOs that made the accusation on Friday that they had evidence of 27 “extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions” over the five days of protest that were planned in July.
Azimio demanded “marches and vigils of solidarity for victims of police violence” in place of “peaceful demonstrations”. “We urge Kenyans to leave their homes, light candles, and in their honor, lay flowers,” it declared in a statement on Monday.
William Ruto, who was elected in August 2022, is facing escalating resistance. With a bill adopted in early July introducing more taxes, he is accused of specifically making things worse for Kenyans who are already battling with increasing inflation (+8% year-on-year in June).
Despite the low participation for the most recent days of mobilization on Thursday and Friday, the opposition leader declared that “these protests were about the cost of living and excessive taxes, and they will continue”.
The UN, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Kenyan media urged Ruto and Odinga to communicate last week. Mr. Odinga reassured him, “We have always said that we are open to dialogue.”
After William Ruto agreed to hold negotiations, the opposition canceled protests that were set for April and May. The talks broke down, which prompted the commencement of operations at the start of July.
