Police fire tear gas as fresh protests erupt in Kenya

NAIROBI: Police fired tear gas to disperse antigovernment protests on Monday over the high cost of living, ater the opposition vowed demonstrations would go ahead despite a police ban.

Security was tight, with riot police stationed at strategic points in Nairobi and patrolling the streets, while many shops were shut and train services from the capital’s outskirts into the central business district were suspended.

Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged people to take to the streets every on Monday and Thursday, even ater protests a week ago turned violent and paralysed parts of Nairobi.

Police clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators in Nairobi’s largest slum Kibera, where protesters set tyres on fire, defying a warning by the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome who said on Sunday that the rallies were “illegal” and would be banned.

The situation was calmer elsewhere in the city, with a heavy police presence in neighbourhoods where protests had taken place last week.

During last Monday’s clashes in Nairobi and opposition strongholds in western Kenya, a university student was killed by police fire while 31 officers were injured as running batles erupted between riot police and demonstrators.

More than 200 people were arrested, including several senior opposition politicians, while protesters - as well as Odinga’s own motorcade - were hit with tear gas and water cannon.

It was the first major outbreak of political unrest since President William Ruto took office more than six months ago ater defeating Odinga in an election his rival claims was “stolen.”

Despite the police ban, Odinga called Sunday on Kenyans to join what he has described as “the mother of all demonstrations.”

“I want to tell Mr Ruto and the IG Koome that we are not going to be intimidated,” he said. “We are not going to fear tear gas and police.”

Odinga also accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of orchestrating an operation to cause “mayhem” at Monday’s rallies.

Nairobi residents were wary ater the previous violence.