Thursday July 20, 2023
Kenyan protesters have been demonstrating against the rising cost of living
Several people in Kenya have been shot and injured as police battled opposition protesters in several parts of the county demonstrating against the rising cost of living and tax hikes.
Local media reported that five people were injured in Nakuru town in the Rift Valley region – with four sustaining gunshot wounds. Two others were shot and injured in Makueni in the east.
Earlier three people were reported to have been taken to hospital in in Migori in the west after they were injured during the protests.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga reportedly urged his supporters to end the protests at 17:00 local time and resume on Thursday.
Mr Odinga told the local Daily Nation newspaper website that the first day of a series of cost-of-living protests had been a success.
In Nairobi’s city centre and in other key towns, businesses remained shut and people stayed away for fear of getting caught in the protests.
Meanwhile, a number of people were shot and injured in different towns during the anti-government protests.
The opposition Azimio coalition says some of their leaders and close allies including some MPs and local area representatives had been arrested, with deputy leader Martha Karua condemning their “arrest without lawful justification”.
President William Ruto meanwhile said he was ready for talks but denounced the chaos and hooliganism during the protests, and urged the opposition to find amicable ways to address their concerns.