Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga spoke out against what he described as “unprecedented police violence” during the anti-government and anti-expense protests that have been taking place in the country since March.
Organized by the opposition coalition Azimio, the protests have been directed against President William Ruto’s policies, leading to incidents of looting and clashes with the police.
According to Azimio, at least 50 people have been killed during the protests since March, while official figures put the number at around 20.
Odinga held a press conference in Nairobi, where he accused the police and gangs of resorting to lethal force against unarmed civilians, Particularly targeting the Luo ethnic group from which he hails.
President Ruto, responding to accusations of police violence, expressed his support for the police, urging them to take firm action against criminals, gangs, anarchists, and those seeking to cause chaos.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced the police’s actions, with documented cases of “extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions” during the July protests.
In response to the ongoing violence, Azimio has called for “marches and vigils of solidarity for victims of police violence” instead of “peaceful demonstrations”.
However, despite the opposition’s call for continued protests, there has been a decline in the turnout for the recent days of mobilization.
President Ruto, who was elected in August 2022, is facing increasing opposition, with criticism directed at the challenges faced by Kenyans, such as inflation and the introduction of new taxes.
Last week, various international bodies and Kenyan media urged both Ruto and Odinga to engage in dialogue to find a resolution to the ongoing tensions.
Odinga stated that the opposition remains open to dialogue, even though previous attempts at talks collapsed, leading to the resumption of protests in July.
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