This morning the opposition in Kenya returns to the streets to protest President William Ruto's government and particularly against the signing of Finance Bill 2023 recently passed by parliament. For the Azimio La Umoja (in Kiswahili "declaration of unity") coalition led by 78-year-old Raila Odinga, the country because of the government is in an unsustainable economic situation.
The choice of the date of July 7 for these new street protests, and also that of the main location, Kamukunji ground in Nairobi, are not accidental: it is the famous "Saba Saba Day" (7/7) that refers to July 7, 1990, when the Kenyan people took to the streets to demand free elections. The politicians who had called the protests, Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, were arrested a few days before the day of protest. Other organizers were beaten and detained by then-President Moi, who a few months later had to accept multipartyism and kick-start the democratic process in the country.
"Tomorrow we will start shaping a new history from this venue, led by our leader Raila Odinga," said Odm party chairman George Aladwa, "We welcome all Kenyans from all walks of life to start arriving here as early as 4:30 a.m. Ours will be a very peaceful gathering. The opposition has called on the police to cooperate, asking them not to obstruct the subsequent procession from Kamukunji to the Cbd, Nairobi's commercial center. But the slogans are not so soft. "We want a new Kenya. Tomorrow we are here to start the fourth liberation," said Mathare MP Antony Oluoch.
More demonstrations and protests are planned in different parts of the capital and also in other Kenyan cities.
This is sure to paralyze Nairobi and its activities and create law and order problems especially in opposition strongholds such as Kisumu, the country's third largest city on Lake Victoria, where protests last May left three people dead, two students and a police officer.