Kenya opposition says protests to resume

NAIROBI – Kenya’s opposition will resume anti-government protests from May 2, the party leader’s spokesperson said on Sunday, nearly three weeks after they were suspended following a government offer of dialogue.

“We will resume the demos May 2,” said Dennis Onyango the spokesperson for opposition leader Raila Odinga, who organised last month’s demonstrations. “Protests to be confined to Nairobi,” Onyango added. Onyango did not say why the opposition had called for the protests to resume. But the opposition had warned this would happen if insufficient progress was made in the talks.

Odinga had been leading regular protests against the government over claims the presidential vote in August had been rigged but also over what he said was the government’s failure to tackle the soaring cost of living. Three people died and businesses and property were torched and vandalised in three days of chaotic anti-government street demonstrations. Two civilians were killed by suspected police fire in Kisumu, while a police officer died from injuries sustained in clashes in the city, said the authorities. – AFP.