NAIROBI, Kenya July 19 – Police have fired live bullets and lobbed teargas to disperse demonstrators in several towns as the government moved to implement the ban in protests.
Crowds were dispersed in Nairobi, Kibera, Mathare, Juja, Kayole, Kibera among others where they were dispersed with teargas by anti-riot police officers.
Most towns remained deserted with businesses closed as traders feared looting characterised in past demonstrations.
In Kisumu, demonstrators were dispersed at the main terminus where they had blocked roads even as the main town remained deserted.
In Kisii, protesters set up bonfires at Mwembe Tayari and Daraja Mbili where police engaged protesters in running battles.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Nakuru and parts of the coastal city of Mombasa.
Nine people died in violent clashes on Wednesday last week in parts of the country as demonstrators called to protest by Odinga marched in defiance of a government ban. Six others had been killed in similar protests the previous week.
Odinga has called for more protests from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday against the high cost of living occasioned by the Finance Act signed by President William Ruto.
Odinga, who insists last year’s presidential election won by Ruto was “stolen”, initiated a string of rallies this year against a government he says is illegitimate and responsible for a cost-of-living crisis.
But President Ruto has told him off, vowing not to succumb to political pressure to share his government with a “loser”.
“I want to tell Raila Odinga that elections ended on August 8 last year. You can’t seek the leadership of our country through bloodshed, deaths, and destruction of property. There is no way you will change Kenya through the route you have taken,” Ruto declared.
Schools in the country’s three main cities of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu were ordered closed Wednesday following the planned protests.
