Azimio digs in, to amp up protest frequency

Chaos and rebellion roil the country over high cost of living, as police kill six in clashes with demonstrators.

The opposition coalition, Azimio, will step up its anti-government protests from next week, ODM Secretary General has said.

Speaking during a relevision appearance, Sifuna indicated that their decision was informed by what he called a lack of the Kenya kwanza led administration listening to Kenyans.

“From next week we will have three days straight of protests from Monday to Wednesday until President Ruto listens to Kenyans,” he said.

Demonstrators Wednesday poured to the streets to protest over the high cost of living and what they called punitive taxation imposed on Kenyans by the Ruto led administration.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga who was scheduled to address his supporters in Nairobi’s Kamukunji ground would later abort the planned demos over intelligence reports that he revealed pointed toward hired goons and police shooting at his supporters.

Meanwhile even as the interior cabinet secretary spoke tough, vowing to arrest all the enablers of the demonstrations.

“The government has tonight mobilized all law enforcement agencies of the state and the institutions of our country’s criminal justice system to conclude investigations urgently and proceed to the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the planning and execution of the crimes,” said Kindiki.

The government maintains that tax hikes, which include a doubling of the fuel tax and the introduction of a levy to fund affordable housing, are necessary to deal with growing debt repayments and to create job opportunities.

Opposition groups assert that the tax hikes will only exacerbate the hardships faced by Kenyans, who are already struggling with the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, including food.