Kenya Is Preparing For More Demonstrations Despite The Prohibition, So Security Is High.

Kenyans were preparing for fresh anti-government protests on Monday over the country’s high cost of living after the opposition pledged to carry out the action in defiance of a police ban.

Security was tight, with riot police stationed at key locations and monitoring the streets in Nairobi. Several stores were closed, and there were no trains running from the city’s outskirts into the central business sector.

Even though demonstrations a week ago turned violent and paralyzed sections of Nairobi, veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has encouraged Kenyans to come to the streets every Monday and Thursday.

The protests, however, were described as “illegal” and will be outlawed by Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, to reporters on Sunday.

A university student was murdered by police gunfire during last Monday’s violence, and 31 police officers were wounded when running fights broke out between riot police and protesters in Nairobi and opposition strongholds in western Kenya.

At than 200 individuals were detained, including a number of prominent opposition lawmakers, while tear gas and water cannon were used on the protestors and even Odinga’s own motorcade.

It was the first significant political upheaval since President William Ruto assumed office more than six months ago after beating Odinga in an election that his challenger contends was “stolen.”

Notwithstanding the police order, Odinga urged Kenyans to participate in what he dubbed “the mother of all rallies” on Sunday.

He continued, “I want to let Mr. Ruto and IG Koome know that we are not going to be frightened. “We won’t be afraid of cops or tear gas.”

In addition, Odinga said that Rigathi Gachagua, the vice president, had planned “mayhem” during the demonstrations on Monday.

The recent violence has Nairobi residents on edge.

Mercy Wangare, who works at a Mpesa (mobile money) kiosk at an electronics store, said, “I may have to shut also since I have observed most of my neighbors are closed.”

The sight of these officers patrolling the area is a clue that things could not turn out well, so I’m merely analyzing my options before making a decision.

The High Court rejected a plea by the Communications Authority of Kenya to stop television stations from live airing the protests.