In a brief speech to protesters lining up to greet him as he entered Nairobi on Monday, former prime minister and leader of the Kenyan opposition Raila Odinga called for weekly national protests against the high cost of living.
According to his senior advisor Makau Mutua, moments earlier, police in Nairobi fired tear gas and water cannons at his vehicle as they barred his supporters from entering the Serena Hotel, where he was scheduled to hold a news conference.
The protest leader was then forced to move to another part of Nairobi after police prevented his vehicle from entering the Central Business District, where demonstrators and police have clashed since early in the morning.
Odinga declared from the sunroof of his vehicle, “We shall use all available, peaceful, and constitutional means to vindicate our rights.” After his motorcade, which had been frequently tear-gassed, Odinga drove around Nairobi with protesters.
Thousands of people across the nation have protested against the high expense of living by taking to the streets. By Monday afternoon local time, police had detained hundreds of demonstrators, including top opposition lawmakers.
Odinga, who in August lost the presidential race for a fifth time, called for widespread protests to show opposition to what he says is an unjust government that rigged the election.
Sen. Stewart Madzayo of the Kilifi County and Rep. Opiyo Wandayi of the Ugunja Sub-County were among those detained in Nairobi, according to Odinga’s top adviser Mutua. He told CNN that six additional officials had been detained in the city and added that the party was still counting the arrests.
Members of Odinga’s party demanded that the authorities immediately release the detained politicians after accusing police of interfering with what they claimed were peaceful demonstrations.
Businesses in Nairobi’s city centre were closed for the day as a result of the clashes between police and demonstrators there and in the Kibera slum, where Odinga enjoys strong support. Conflicts were reportedly recorded in Kisumu, a city in western Kenya that is regarded as Odinga’s stronghold.
Many Kenyans are experiencing a cost of living crisis as a result of the country’s high inflation rate and rising food costs. After Monday, demonstrations will continue as long as necessary, according to Mutua.