Kenyan opposition to rally despite police declining permission

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Mar 2023 16:18

Kenya's police chief says that the organizers of the anti-inflation protests did not submit permission requests within the required time frame.

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga,of the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) One Kenya Alliance, speaks during a Reuters interview in Nairobi, Kenya August 29, 2022. (Reuters)

Kenya's opposition announced that they will move forward with their protests against the economic situation despite a ban on the demonstrations issued by the police after the opposition failed to request permission on time.

The head of the Azimio la Umoja party, Raila Odinga, had earlier called for protests in Nairobi after the country's inflation reached 9.2 percent last February.

Last August, Odinga rejected the results of the presidential election, which announced Deputy President William Ruto's victory, describing the electoral process then as "a travesty and a blatant disregard of the constitution of Kenya," and accusing his rival of "stealing" the elections from him. The opposition leader also dubbed Ruto's government as "illegitimate".

Nairobi police chief said that permission requests were submitted for two protests on late Saturday and early Sunday, which does not fulfill the three-days-prior requirement.

"For public safety neither has been granted," Adamson Bungei told reporters.

"I want to underline some areas such as State House where we have heard people planning to invade or visit is covered by the laws of Kenya that it is a restricted area for unauthorized persons," Bungei added.

However, Odinga called on his supporters to take to the streets despite the authority's decision.

"I want Kenyans to come out in large numbers and show the displeasure of what is happening in our country," he said addressing his supporters on Sunday.