• There were, however, no demonstrations in Bungoma as residents went about their businesses as usual.
• On Monday, Raila announced that protests will take place every Monday until President Ruto addresses the high cost of living.
Image: TONY WAFULA
Image: TONY WAFULA
Bungoma clerics have condemned Monday's Azimio demonstrations, saying they hurt business, transportation and education in parts of the country.
There were, however, no demonstrations in Bungoma as residents went about their businesses as usual.
Bungoma County Interfaith chairman Calistus Barasa said on Tuesday that leaders were elected to fight for the electorate's interests and not to go to the streets to demonstrate.
“We are very annoyed at how some leaders are behaving. We did not elect you to go and stage demonstrations in town streets but to fight for us,” he said in Bungoma town.
Barasa said Azimio leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto should consider having a dialogue to end the planned weekly mass action, noting that Monday’s demos led to destruction of property.
“Please President Ruto, you are a God-fearing man, allow Raila Odinga to look for you so that you can have a dialogue. As the church, we are ready to support you,” he said.
“If the President keeps quiet on Raila's mass action plans, then it will be hard for the Kenya Kwanza government to revive the economy as pledged.”
On Monday, Raila announced that protests will take place every Monday until President Ruto addresses the high cost of living.
Raila is also pushing for what he calls "electoral justice", which is a mixture of his disputed claim that he won the last election and a push to block the reconstitution of the IEBC.
Pastor Immaculate Wanyama urged Raila's former presidential running mate and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua to urge the Azimio leader to call off the mass actions, saying that if the protests continue there is a risk of bloodshed.
She said Karua should not lead youths to demos and should instead guide and counsel them.
During Monday's protests, ugly scenes were witnessed in Nairobi, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori counties where businesses were brought to a standstill and deserted for most of the day.
In Nairobi, businesses, especially within the CBD, were disrupted as PSVs stayed off the road. Some offices remained closed as police fired tear gas at protesters.
In Kisumu, angry protesters burnt tyres and chanted anti-Ruto songs.
Businesses were closed as the protesters engaged the police in stone-throwing. The protesters also vandalised UDA offices that were recently opened.
In Migori, business was brought to standstill as protesters poured to the streets.