African Union concerned about violence that fuelled protests in Kenya It calls on all stakeholders to remain calm and engage in dialogue to resolve differences in the interest of national unity and reconciliation.
Originally, the opponent Raila Odinga, a direct competitor of William Ruto in the August 2022 presidential elections, called on his supporters to demonstrate every Monday and Thursday against the government’s policies and price hikes for basic commodities. Thus, the demonstrations, which the Kenyan President deemed illegal, were followed by violence that resulted in loss of life, property damage and the disruption of some economic activities in the capital, Nairobi.
In the aftermath of this second demonstration, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, launched a plea to calm the situation. “The chairperson urges all parties to calm down and engage in dialogue to overcome any differences in the supreme interest of national unity and reconciliation,” said a statement issued by the office of the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Furthermore, the AU official reiterated his support to the government of President William Ruto, the Kenyan people and their efforts to ensure national unity, peace and stability in the country.
It should be noted that these protests have already resulted in two deaths and 23 injured police officers. The police, trying to disperse the huge crowd gathered here and there in the capital Nairobi and in Kisumu, one of the strongholds of the opponent Raila Odinga, used tear gas. Churches and mosques have been burnt. The protests come in a Kenya where inflation reached 9.2% in February 2023, according to the government, and record drought in the region is leaving millions without resources and food.
President William Ruto, during the election campaign, presented himself as someone who came from nothing to the top. He therefore promised to improve the situation of lower class Kenyans. But his election did not help. Instead, it removed subsidies on fuel and maize meal, a staple food in Kenya, which have seen prices soar.
