Following the previous elections in Kenya where the main protestant and the leader of the opposition party in Kenya (Azimio la Umoja) One Kenya Coalition Party particularly referred as Azimio is a Kenyan Political Party Alliance and Party headed by Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. It is composed of the Orange Democratic Movement, the Jubilee, NARC-Kenya.
The son of the former Vice president of Kenya Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who served Kenya under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta accused Ruto’s Victory over his previous elections of 2022 in Kenya. He urged that the current State of Kenya is governed and ruled by outlaw leaders.
Odinga insisted and submitted a case to the supreme court of Kenya in move that could heighten the Country’s political dispute. But unfortunately to Odinga, the Supreme court did not recognize his arguments as he has already reported the former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta to the supreme court of the same case of election being rigged. However, even when the Judicial committee ordered the elections to be repeated, Odinga did not show up.
Odinga accuses the government of being “illegitimate”, and of falling to tackle the high cost of living. The protests have also spread to other cities, with a university student reportedly shot dead in Kisumu.
But William Ruto has rejected the claims. Kenya’s high court upheld his victory in last year’s election, but Odinga insists that the elections were “rigged”.
He has been driving through Nairobi’s residential suburbs to rally his supporters and has vowed to organize weekly protests against Ruto’s government.
It has caused many businesses to shut in the city due to fears of looting. At least one person has been reportedly shot in the capital.
The University student died after being shot in the Neck by police in the Maceno area of the city, Kenyan media reports.
Whereas the Police of Kenya said that the demonstrators were throwing stones and injured six of them, thus prompting security forces to fire live bullets to the people which worsened relations and thus fueled the fertile ground for the demonstration.
Running battles have taken place on the main Kenyatta Avenue between police and demonstrators, some of whom were throwing stones at the security officers.
Roads leading to Key government buildings have been blocked and the President’s official residence sealed off. In the western city of Kisumu, where Mr Odinga draws a fanatical following, riot police confronted protestors.
Odinga and the team rioting were teargassed by the Police of Kenya despite the fact that the protest was peaceful and legal as guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya.
An advisor to Mr. Odinga later tweeted that the opposition leaders’ vehicle had been hit by bullet. “Our windscreen has been badly damaged”, Prof Makau Matua said. But he did not give further details and it is unclear exactly where the allegedly incident took place.
“We have a responsible government in office who have a constitutional duty to protect life and property. We have a country to run,” Ruto said. He added the government would not condone “impunity”.
Some of the fiercest scenes have been in Nairobi’s Kibera settlement a poor neighborhood with a strong history of supporting the opposition.” We came here peacefully, but they tear-gassed us,” 21-year-old Charles Oduor told the AFP news agency in another district of Nairobi.
“They lie to us every day where the cheap maize flour they promised? Where are the jobs for the youth they promised? All they do is to hire their friends”.
Odinga and the protestants vowed to stage the protest every Monday following Article 19 0f the Constitution of Kenya that states that; To respect the right of everyone to peaceful and unarmed assembly, and to demonstrate, pocket, and petition as guaranteed by Article 37; To respect the Constitution of Kenya, as well as regional and international Human Rights Standards, regarding the exercise of fundamental human rights.
To add salt in the wound, also in South Africa, the second-biggest opposition party in South Africa, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also held nationwide protests to demand the resignation of the President Cyril Ramaphosa over the worsening economy, power and widespread corruption.
Several thousands of people matched to his official residence in the capital, Pretoria. “Our demands are simple, we want Ramaphosa to leave this house,” EFF leader Julious Malema said.
However, the government had already deployed 3,000 troops to help police maintain law and order, and 85 people had been reportedly arrested.
