Gachagua loses face as his own yard joins Raila led Maandamano

Raila Odinga’s anti-government protests have spread to more counties, with businesses closed and roads abandoned ahead of the planned demonstrations.

In Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Kisumu, Nairobi, and Nakuru, protesters have taken to the streets to demand that the government address the rising cost of living. In Nyeri, which is Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s backyard, motorists also took to the streets to protest. Some matatu operators also halted operations.

In Nyamira, youths were spotted holding tear gas canisters that had been used by police to disperse them. Demonstrators blocked the Nyamira-Kisii road with burning car tires and stones. In Kisumu, youths were playing soccer in the empty streets adjacent to the main bus park as a dozen police officers looked on.

The situation was no different in Nairobi, where Jogoo Road, usually the busiest road in the city, was eerily empty. Very few vehicles or pedestrians were spotted. In Mombasa, the central business district was turned into a battlefield between police and protesters.

Police have remained vigilant, monitoring the situation even as protesters camp at various locations within the towns. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has dispatched key members of the Azimio coalition to lead anti-government demonstrations at the grassroots.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party has remained positive ahead of their planned protests despite a police ban. In response to the statement by police Inspector General Japhet Koome announcing the ban, Azimio appeared to taunt the police, saying the protests will go on as planned.

The protests are a sign of growing discontent with the government’s handling of the economy. The cost of living has been rising steadily in recent months, and many Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet. The protests are a way for people to express their frustration and demand that the government take action.

It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the protests. However, the protests are a clear sign that the people are not happy with the status quo.