News Africa

Kenya police fire tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters

One person was killed in the protests in the western city of Kisumu, according to the head of a local hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities since the protests started last week to two.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga joined protesters on the western side of the capital, where his convoy attracted thousands of supporters and he addressed them at various stops, calling for electoral justice and reduced prices for food items.

Police chief Japheth Koome insists that the protests are illegal, but Odinga says Kenyans have a right to demonstrate.

Odinga and his party, Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition, are leading the protests against the rising cost of living and calling for President William Ruto’s resignation, saying he wasn’t validly elected in last year’s polls.

Odinga’s legal challenge against last year’s presidential election was thrown out by the courts, but he continues to allege that the poll was marred by fraud.

The opposition leader has urged his followers to take to the streets twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Ruto over the weekend urged Odinga to face him directly and “stop terrorising the country”.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua shared photos of himself at his office early on Monday morning and urged Kenyans to report to work. Ruto is currently out of the country visiting Germany.

Nairobi’s central business district remained calm, but most businesses were closed on Monday morning due to the uncertainty over demonstrations.

There were reports of some violence directed at Odinga and his supporters. Some people raided a farm on the outskirts of the capital owned by the family of former president Uhuru Kenyatta, cutting trees and taking away sheep, according to local media reports. The former president supported Odinga in the 2022 elections.

Odinga’s gas cylinder manufacturing business near the central business district was pelted with stones.

 

Source: aljazeera.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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