Kenyans braced up on Monday for a new round of anti-government protests over the high cost of living after the opposition vowed the action would go ahead despite a police ban. The protesters defied a warning by the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome that the demonstrations in Nairobi and the western city of Kisumu, an Odinga stronghold, were “illegal”. According to him, the demonstrations planned for Monday are illegal and will not be allowed, adding that his force was ready to keep the peace and would arrest anyone carrying offensive weapons. But veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has called for people to take to the streets Monday and Thursday against President William Ruto over the high cost of living, remained defiant.
Last Monday’s unauthorized protests devolved into violence, with riot police firing tear gas and water cannon at people hurling rocks and setting tires on fire.
In Kisumu, where a university student was killed in the protests last week, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Odinga’s convoy was also hit in last week’s protests.
31 officers were injured in the running battles between riot police and demonstrators, and over 200 people were arrested, including several senior opposition politicians.
It was the first major political violence since Ruto took office six months ago after beating Odinga in an election his rival claims were “stolen”.
Ruto, who is leaving the country on Sunday for a trip to Germany and Belgium, has already called on the opposition leader to halt the action.
Many Kenyans are struggling to put food on the table, battling high prices for basic commodities, a dipping local currency, and a record drought that has left millions starving.
Last week’s protests proved costly, as Nairobi lost more than half its daily revenue as people kept away from the central business district, the city’s governor Johnson Sakaja said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the demonstrations cost the country $15 million.
 "Dubai Submerged In Flood")