Conflicts & War

Kenya police fire tear gas, water cannons on opposition leader’s convoy

Nairobi, Mar 20 (EFE).- Kenyan police officers on Monday fired tear gas and water cannons on the convoy of opposition leader Raila Odinga as protesters rallied in Nairobi to demand the resignation of president William Ruto.

Odinga was due to give a statement at a press conference at the Serena Hotel, located about two kilometers from the presidential palace, but the former prime minister, dressed in military clothing, was rushed out of the hotel by guards after the police blocked the way.

Odinga was riding a vehicle that was part of a convoy the security forces began firing tear gas and water cannons at, in order to disperse the convoy and protesters.

Giving up on reaching the central part of the capital, the opposition leader headed to the eastern neighborhood of Eastleigh to address hundreds of supporters.

“Every Monday there will be protests, the fight has started and won’t end until Kenyans get their rights,” he said.

Earlier, the Kenyan vice president Rigathi Gachagua urged Odinga to call off the anti-government protests after clashes broke out between police and protests.

The opposition leader rejects the results of the presidential elections in August and called protests against the soaring inflation and the high cost of living.

Clashes between protesters and the police in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities have taking place since the early hours of the day, with citizens throwing stone and setting tires on fire.

The 78-year-old Odinga, who was running for the presidency for the fifth time, received 48.85% of the vote and rejected the figures as “illegal” after citing irregularities during the counting of the votes. EFE

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