Azimio la Umoja Raila Odinga is expected to lead protests against the government on Wednesday, July 12, as the opposition mounts pressure on President William Ruto’s government.
In a clarion call to Kenyans, Raila unveiled a digital signature platform on Tuesday, July 11, aimed at collecting 15 million signatures to delegitimise the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Inspector General Japhet Koome has outlawed the Azimio protest, claiming that the coalition did not notify the police of the planned protests. null
Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua have warned Kenyans against taking part in the protests, vowing to protect lives and businesses. The ruling coalition’s allies have called for the arrest of Raila and his supporters.
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10:22 am: Matatu operators withdrew their vehicles at various stages in Kakamega County.
10:14 am: Police lobbed teargas at protestors who lit tyres in Emali town along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
10:05 am: Demonstrators barricaded roads in Nyamira as the protestors led chants against the government.
9:55 am: Azimio supporters blocked major roads in Homa Bay County in protest of the high cost of living.
9:46 am: Police officers lob teargas at protestors in Mombasa County. Most of the businesses remained closed due to the anti-gov’t protests.
9:41 am: Anti-government protestors lit tyres on fire along the road in Kibera. null
9:34 am: Passengers were stranded as PSV operators staged demonstrations at Nyeri bus terminus over fuel prices.
9:31 am: Protesters block Kisii-Nyamira Road along Ting’a area.
9:24 am: Transport was paralysed in Migori town as police officers were dispatched to disperse protestors who had blocked the roads.
8:53 am: Demonstrators in Kisii and Kisumu burnt tyres and placed stones along major roads in protest of the high cost of living.
8:04 am: Businesses remained closed, and minimal activities were witnessed in Kisumu ahead of Maandamano Wednesday.
8:00 am: Security was beefed up in Nairobi and other areas touted to be Azimio strongholds.
Meanwhile, Raila castigated President Ruto’s regime for instilling punitive taxes and raising the cost of living – making basic goods unaffordable for Kenyans.
This sets precedence for a looming face-off between the police service and the coalition supporters who are championing a lower cost of living.
Additionally, in what was touted as a mega Maandamano Wednesday, stakeholders from the transport sector had also issued a strike notice in protest of the mandatory re-testing of the Public Service Vehicles (PSV) drivers and conductors.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, however, swiftly engaged the stakeholders and suspended the mandatory retesting process until September 1, 2023.
