Nairobi, Kenya
CNN
—
Kenyan opposition leader and former prime minister Raila Odinga has known as for weekly nationwide protests in opposition to the excessive price of dwelling, in a short tackle to demonstrators flanking his motorcade in Nairobi Monday.
Moments earlier than, police fired tear fuel and water cannons at his automobile as they blocked his supporters from getting into Serena Hotel in Nairobi, the place he was resulting from give a information convention, his senior adviser Makau Mutua instructed CNN.
Police then blocked his automobile from accessing the Central Business District, the place protesters have clashed with police since morning, forcing the leader to relocate to a different space of Nairobi.
“We shall use all available, peaceful, and constitutional means to vindicate our rights,” Odinga stated from the sunroof of his automobile.
Afterward, Odinga drove round Nairobi alongside protesters following his motorcade, which has been repeatedly tear-gassed.
Hundreds of individuals throughout the nation have taken to the streets to protest in opposition to 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 lost the presidential election for a fifth time in August, known as for nationwide protests to exhibit in opposition to 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 keeping with Odinga’s senior adviser Mutua. Six different officers have been additionally arrested within the capital, he confirmed to CNN, including the celebration was nonetheless attempting to evaluate the variety of arrests.
Members of Odinga’s celebration 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 heart, with companies within the metropolis heart 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.
High inflation and hovering meals costs within the nation has led to a cost-of-living disaster for many in Kenya. “We will sustain the protests [beyond Monday] until we get what we deserve,” Mutua stated.
A spokesperson for the Kenyan police couldn’t be instantly reached.