Kenya: Anti-Government Protesters, Police Clash In Nairobi

The Kenyan Police on Tuesday used tear gas to disperse a delegation of opposition politicians who wanted to visit the president's office in the capital Nairobi, in a day of anti-government protests without major incident.

A petition was intended to be signed by elected representatives from the opposition Azimio coalition against the "unacceptably high" cost of food, fuel, and power.

According to a video taken by local media, they were scattered with tear gas after being denied entry to the presidential building.

After a one-month pause, President William Ruto's longtime rival Raila Odinga called for the "maandamano" (demonstrations) against him to resume on Tuesday. He accuses Ruto of "stealing" the August 2022 presidential election and failing to stop the present price increase.

Earlier protests in late March resulted in altercations, theft, and vandalism. These protests that the authorities forbade resulted in the deaths of three persons, including a police officer.

There were a few minor skirmishes and disturbances on Tuesday morning, but mostly the country was peaceful.

Police and youths who had blocked streets with burning tires got into fights in some of Nairobi's outlying neighbourhoods.

In the south of the capital, a goods truck and an empty bus were also set on fire.

Roads were blocked in Kisumu, an Odinga stronghold in the west, by burning tires and rocks.

Adamson Bungei, the regional police commander for Nairobi, declared a ban on the demonstrations on Sunday because earlier ones had "been marred by violence."

Days of action had been put on hold to allow for talks between the two parties, but the process has slowed, particularly due to disagreements about the makeup of the various delegations.

Raila Odinga, who was running for president for the fifth time and had his appeal rejected by the Supreme Court, is still protesting the outcome of the election, which was one of the closest in the nation's history.

William Ruto, who was elected as the defender of the "resourceful" poor, has now come under fire, particularly after removing expensive subsidies on fuel and maize meal, the prices of which have increased since the election.

East Africa's economic superpower, Kenya, is struggling with soaring inflation; in February, it hit 9.2% y/y. Just food prices increased by 13.3%.

The Kenyan shilling is losing value, while some areas of the country are experiencing an unprecedented drought.