Odinga has referred to as for indefinite twice-weekly protests, citing the excessive price of residing and accusing President Ruto of electoral malpractice.

Kenyan opposition chief Raila Odinga says protests in opposition to President William Ruto’s authorities over the excessive price of residing would go forward as scheduled regardless of a police ban.

In a Twitter put up, Odinga referred to as for protests on Monday and Thursday, hours after accusing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of “coordinating a marketing campaign of mayhem” in opposition to the deliberate demonstrations.

Mr Rigathi Gachagua planning mayhem in opposition to protestors. pic.twitter.com/0unlVsX8qF

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) March 26, 2023

Final week, protests in Nairobi and different cities turned violent, and one individual was killed. Police arrested greater than 200 individuals, together with lawmakers belonging to Odinga’s One Kenya Coalition Occasion from each homes of parliament.

Kenya’s police chief on Sunday introduced a ban on the protests referred to as by Odinga, saying such acts remained unlawful.

“We’ve got been restraining ourselves. We can not do this any extra,” Inspector Normal of Police Japhet Koome instructed reporters at a media briefing. “We’re prepared because the police power to keep up peace.”

Throughout final week’s protests, police used tear fuel and water cannon, together with at Odinga’s convoy. Nairobi’s central enterprise district had a heavy police presence earlier than Monday’s deliberate rallies.

Odinga, 78, has referred to as for indefinite twice-weekly protests, citing the excessive price of staples reminiscent of maize flour, which has saved inflation excessive. He additionally has accused Ruto of dishonest in final yr’s presidential election.

Ruto, who inherited an enormous international debt and has scrapped gas subsidies, mentioned final week that the protests had been hurting companies and Kenya’s individuals.

Odinga, a former prime minister, has misplaced 5 elections in a row in his bid to be president. He challenged the newest end result earlier than the Supreme Courtroom, which upheld Ruto’s victory.