Mass action starts, business in Kisumu paralyzed as residents take to the streets

Business in Kisumu City was paralysed for the better part of Friday March 10 as hundreds of protestors took to the streets to start the mass action called by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.

The mass action started a day after the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader, Raila Odinga declared the start of countrywide mass action as part of putting pressure on President William Ruto to yield to their demands on the cost of living, IEBC selection panel, among other reasons.

Kisumu protests

In Kisumu, demonstrations started at 11am from Kondele to the office of the County Commissioner located in the Central Business District (CBD).

The protestors chanted anti-government slogans and lamented about the high cost of living and high taxes.

Protestors along Odinga Oginga street chanting and lamenting about the high cost of living. [Michael Mute, Standard]

While announcing the start of country-wide protests, Odinga listed 15 reasons that he says are grounds to declare President Ruto's administration "illegitimate". He made the proclamation at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices in Upper Hill, Nairobi where he addressed journalists.

Unlike past protests that quickly spiralled into violence and looting, demonstrators in Kisumu were peaceful, they sang and danced, and even mocked police officers who were keeping an eye on them. Attempts to march to Kisumu State Lodge were thwarted by police who blocked the protestors.

In the list of the protestors' concerns is the high cost of living, high taxation, cost of education and tribalism among others.

Daily demonstrations

Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, County Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro, Majority Whip in the county assembly Seth Kanga and Kondele ward MCA Joachim Oketch were among the leaders who participated in the Friday demonstrations.

The leaders said they will hold demonstrations at the County Commissioner's office every day until Sunday March 19.

"We will demonstrate every day to present this memorandum to the county commissioner. We will also go to the State Lodge. This is a peaceful demonstration and nobody should try mishandling our people. Our issues as outlined by our leaders must be handled," said MCA Kanga.

The leaders presented the memorandum to Kisumu Central DCC Hussein Allanson.

Apart Kisumu, protests were also held in Mbale town, Vihiga county.