Kenya’s largest opposition party said on Monday that it will launch protests over high living costs and alleged election fraud due to what it considers the government’s lack of commitment to dialogue.
Raila Odinga ordered a halt to nationwide demonstrations in early April after President William Ruto pleaded for calm and vowed to restructure the election commission, one of the opposition’s main demands.
Violence between protestors and police halted three marches involving thousands of people. Human rights groups made a plea for calm, fearing an outbreak of racially motivated violence.
Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) party warned last week that if talks fail after the conclusion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on Friday, protests will resume.
“Today we have come to the conclusion that, as we had feared, the commitment is lacking on the part of Kenya Kwanza,” Azimio said in a statement issued by Ruto’s ruling Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) party on Monday.
So yet, neither Ruto nor his party has commented. On Sunday, Ruto pleaded with Azimio for more time to improve the economy and slammed Odinga’s plans to begin protests.
While Ruto supporters accuse Odinga of using popular indignation over rising prices—a problem observed throughout the world—to gain political power and concessions, protestors blame Ruto of incompetence.
Last year, national elections were conducted, and the government said they were free and fair.
Despite its commitment to dialogue, Azimio criticized Kenya Kwanza’s negotiating team composition and accused the government of failing to cut the cost of grain, fuel, electricity, and school fees.
Azimio said that the next protest would be conducted just in Nairobi on May 2.
