Scores injured, business paralysed in Day 1 of anti-government protests

Businesses and transport in various parts of the country including in Nairobi were paralysed for a better part of Wednesday as the opposition Azimio la Umoja Coalition began its three-day anti-government protest across the country.

Protestors allied to Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday morning engaged police in running battles with some in areas like Kibra and Mathare, lighting up fires to protest against the government.

Police officers engaged the rioters in running battles within the capital and in other parts of the country, with many Azimio leaders including Odinga remaining largely absent from the protests.

Inside Nairobi’s Central Business District, most shops remained closed for fear of the protest, with public transport also paralysed as most matatu operators opted to pull their vehicles out of the road.

Police were also forced to lob tear gas canisters to disperse protestors who had staged demonstrations in sections of the capital, including in some residential estates. 

The protestors also held demonstrations in Mombasa, Kisumu, Kisii as well as in Homa Bay and other parts of the country, where they claimed that the rising commodity prices had made life unbearable. 

In Nakuru, five were admitted at the Nakuru Referral Hospital in Nakuru county after they were injured during the anti-government protests.

Nakuru Referral Hospital Medical Superintendent James Waweru said that among the five, four sustained gunshot wounds. Of the four, two had been shot in the abdomen, one in the chest and another one in the leg.

In Migori, two people sustained gunshot wounds, with one having been shot in the thigh while the other had been shot in the leg.

Earlier, ODM director of communications Phillip Etale had also claimed that allies of Odinga including his bodyguard Maurice Ogeta and spokesperson Dennis Onyango had been abducted in separate incidents in Nairobi, but with little proof of the claims. 

The government had earlier on Tuesday, also accused of withdrawing security officers attached to Odinga, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, governors and MPs allied to Azimio as well as former first lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta. 

This is while public schools in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu remained closed following a directive issued by interior cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday evening.

Odinga called for the demonstrations to protest against the high cost of living in the country as well as the tax hikes proposed by the controversial Finance Bill passed by MPs last month.

The Azimio coalition has argued that the new taxes risk making life harder for the already overburdened citizens who have been experiencing increased commodity prices.

Two rounds of protests earlier this month descended into violence when police fired tear gas, and in some cases live rounds, at the crowds. At least 15 people were killed and hundreds arrested. 

The United Nations and a group of western ambassadors had early this week expressed concerns over cases of violence and the use of force by the police, insisting that both President William Ruto and Odinga should instead dialogue.