Schools and a number of businesses closed in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, as the nation’s main opposition planned to resume protests over the rising cost of living.
Surging prices of ugali — a staple made from corn flour — and fuel have given opposition leader Raila Odinga fresh impetus.
He’s urged his supporters to take to the streets for three days through Friday to also advance his longstanding political demands, aimed at challenging William Ruto’s presidency.
Security forces wearing protective vests and helmets, and anti-riot vehicles deployed on the streets in parts of Nairobi early Wednesday. Traffic on roads leading into the city’s central business district and around major suburbs was unusually low.
Odinga, who narrowly lost last August’s presidential election to Ruto, called for protests soon after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to overturn the result. The veteran political leader — who’s lost five presidential elections — has demanded a new audit of the count and wants the opposition to have a greater say in the appointment of electoral-agency officials — a process he says is controlled by the government.
More than 20 people have been killed and dozens injured in the demonstrations this month alone, the United Nations human rights office said July 14.
In light of calls for further protests, the UN urged the authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly and “any use of force must be guided by the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination. Firearms should never be used to disperse protests.”
Kenya’s shilling extended its losing streak against the dollar for the 15th day, weakening 0.1% to trade at 141.63 per dollar by 11:53 a.m. in Nairobi.
The yield on the nation’s $2 billion of eurobonds due in 2024 fell 21 basis points to 12.71%, a day after the International Monetary Fund approved almost $1 billion in financing for the country.