After two weeks of tumultuous street demonstrations, Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga declared Sunday that he would call off a protest on Monday and instead engage in conversation with the administration.
Since anti-government protests erupted on March 20, three people have died and buildings and businesses have been looted, alarmed neighbours and supporters of a country viewed as a stable democracy in a difficult region.
Odinga, who has accused President William Ruto of stealing last year’s elections, had called for protests twice a week and warned that on April 3, his supporters would “take back the country.”
Nevertheless, on the eve of the march, Odinga announced that he was cancelling it after Ruto recommended that they form a bipartisan parliamentary committee to address complaints about the voting process.
“We stand down our demonstrations for Monday, that is tomorrow, April 3, 2023. But in doing so, we want to emphasize that the right to assemble, to demonstrate, petition, and speak are iron-clad as provided for in our constitution,” Odinga told reporters in an evening press conference.
However his party “reserve the right to call for demonstrations should this process not bear fruit”, he said.
“Should there be no meaningful engagement or response from Hon (Honourable) Ruto to our counter-offer, we resolve to resume our demonstrations after one week.”
Ruto had earlier in the evening, in a nationwide speech, urged Odinga to work via parliament rather than on the street.
“I urge my brother Raila Odinga, and the opposition, to call off the demonstrations, and to give this bipartisan approach a chance for us to take the country forward,” he said, urging Kenyans to remain peaceful and law abiding.
- ‘A lot of fuss’ –
The results of the August elections that named Ruto president were unanimously upheld by Kenya’s Supreme Court, but Odinga argues the vote was rigged and presented new claims this weekend that he says prove he won.
The opposition stalwart has lost five presidential elections and has refused to recognise Ruto or his government, urging him to “vacate his office” ahead of Monday’s rally.
Ruto suggested that a bipartisan parliamentary committee investigate prospective electoral reforms and urged his adversary to grab the opportunity.
Yet he refused to form any kind of alliance with his adversary.
“Once you compromise accountability and oversight, you are in for a lot of trouble,” Ruto said.
“Our position is that we want to engage our brothers and sisters on the other side on issues that are important to the people of Kenya… That way the system of checks and balances remains intact.”
Kenya is regarded as an example of East African democratic stability.
The United States and the United Kingdom, among other foreign missions, have openly urged caution.
The African Union has also called for a peaceful end to the pandemonium, which has seen riot police fire tear gas and water cannons at protestors and set fire to houses of worship, residences, businesses, and cars.
Meanwhile, the Media Council of Kenya reports at least 25 incidences of attacks on journalists “at the hands of state and non-state actors” during the protests.
The United States expressed “grave worry” about the reports on Friday.
