Return to Kenya's peaceful political approach, NRM tells Odinga
Kenya's Opposition leader Raila Odinga and NRM's Communications Director Emmanuel Dombo.
What you need to know:
- Mr Dombo appealed to Ugandans in Kenya not to participate in the protests which on Monday left one student dead, at least 283 people arrested and over 30 police officers injured.
Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) spokesperson has urged Kenya’s opposition leader, Mr Raila Odinga, to use peaceful methods of solving political and other national challenges rather than chaotic protests.
Protesters on Monday took to the streets in the capital Nairobi and other parts of Kenya in response to Odinga's call for a day of action against President William Ruto's government over the country's severe cost of living crisis.
Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, Mr Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM communications director said the protests in the neighbourig country were uncalled for since Mr Odinga accepted the court ruling that upheld Mr Ruto’s victory in last year’s highly contested presidential election.
“Earlier Kenya took a decision of peaceful discussion with its opponents and they came up with a handshake which was applauded by everybody including the Ugandan opposition,” Mr Dombo said.
“Later, our opposition and other parties went and visited Kenya, I don’t know whether they’re the ones who exported this new attitude because I don’t know what forced Mr Raila to leave his previous handshake and peaceful approach to the politics of Kenya and resorted to going onto the streets,” he added.
Mr Dombo appealed to Ugandans in Kenya not to participate in the protests which on Monday left one student dead, at least 283 people arrested and over 30 police officers injured.
Yesterday, Mr Odinga said the protests would be staged every Monday and Thursday until the living conditions change.
“The East African Community will evaluate how the protests are likely to affect the partner states and if need for a joint discussion and cooperation then that one can be picked at that EAC level,” he said.
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leadership tasked the NRM government to intervene in restoring Kenya’s peace since almost 90 percent of Uganda’s imports come in through Kenya’s Mombasa Port.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had on Monday urged organisers to call off the "mayhem and the chaos," saying the protests had cost Kenya about two billion shillings ($15 million) in lost business.
