In Kenya, protests this Wednesday led to at least nine deaths as demonstrators voiced opposition to the rise in fuel taxes called for by opposition leader Raila Odinga. The Citizen Digital portal reported that one of the fatalities involved a man who was shot while authorities say he burned the national flagpole; the fire was subsequently extinguished. (Citizen Digital)
Across numerous neighborhoods, residents erected barricades and blocked major routes in the wake of Odinga’s mobilization efforts tied to concerns over the growing cost of living and the broader economic crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. Clashes with police involved stone-throwing, with injuries reported on both sides. Looting and property damage were also documented as part of the unrest. (Citizen Digital)
The protests disrupted daily life in many sections of the country, with shops shuttered and security forces deploying tear gas at several locations, including areas around Nairobi where a high-level political event had been planned. The demonstrations were organized by the Azimio coalition, which remains at the center of the opposition movement. (Citizen Digital)
Kiphumba Murkomen, the Executive Secretary for Transport, condemned the acts of vandalism and urged authorities to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those responsible. He stressed that violence, anarchy, and damage to public infrastructure cannot be normalized, and he called on organizers to ensure their supporters do not engage in unlawful actions or face accountability for resulting losses. (Citizen Digital)
Throughout the day, Odinga framed the protests as a nationwide message to the government, saying they represented a clear signal of public fatigue. He asserted that Kenyans are not heard and that no one would take action until the administration is willing to listen and respond to the people’s concerns. (Citizen Digital)
Odinga, who has roots in late June birth and a history of political campaigns, previously urged civil disobedience and tax boycotts in response to Parliament’s decision to raise fuel taxes. He characterized the moment as a decisive call for action and argued that the electoral outcome in 2022 was not the end of the dialogue around Kenya’s fiscal policy. (Citizen Digital)