In Kenya's capital, anti-government protesters clashed with a pro-government group on Tuesday, leading to the burning of a motorcycle belonging to people expressing support for the president.
The pro-government group took to the streets of Nairobi on motorbikes on Tuesday morning, ahead of a planned demonstration by anti-government protesters.
The anti-government group lit bonfires in the Imara Daima suburb along the highway leading to Kenya's main airport, which was to be the site of Tuesday's protests. Airport officials urged travelers to arrive early due to heavy security checks and flights are operating as normal.
Elsewhere, police fired tear gas at protesters who had blocked another main road leading to the airport.
Anti-government protests in Kenya have entered their fifth week, having begun with calls for lawmakers to vote against a finance bill that proposed new taxes . President William Ruto has refused to sign the controversial bill and fired nearly all of his ministers, but protesters continue to call for his resignation.
According to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, at least 50 people have died and 413 others have been injured in the protests that have taken place since June 18.
Last week, police banned protests in Nairobi, citing the lack of clear leadership to coordinate with police to ensure security.
The court issued an order suspending the police ban on protests. The Kenyan constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest and police are notified in advance to ensure security.
In the past, police have been accused by activists and civil society groups of violence against protesters.
Former Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome resigned on July 12 and acting police chief Douglas Kanja reiterated on Tuesday that the country's main airport was a "protected area" and "off limits to unauthorised persons" .
"Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with swiftly, firmly and decisively by the law ," Mr Kanja said.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga , who had earlier called for talks, denied allegations he had been bribed to join Mr Ruto in forming a broad-based government and expressed support for the protesters, providing a list of demands he said must be met by the government before any dialogue can take place.
The opposition is demanding that the families of the protesters killed be compensated and that charges against those arrested during the demonstrations be dropped.
Informative
ReplyDelete