Nairobi roars back to life after Raila calls off weekly protests
Nairobi is gradually roaring back to life on April 3, 2023, a day after Azimio leader Raila Odinga announced the suspension of his weekly protests.
A spot check by Nairobi News indicated business as usual in the Kenyan capital.
Vehicle and human traffic were recorded as on a normal working day with residents keen to resume work.
Save for an incident involving the arrest of comedian Erick Omondi within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), there was no sign of increased police patrol as has been the case for the past three weeks.
Omondi has been staging consistent protests aimed at putting pressure on the government to lower the cost of living.
Also, most shops and government offices were open as usual.
Schoolchildren were also spotted heading for their studies after learning in most institutions had been disrupted because of the demonstrations.
Small traders were also spotted selling their wares, while motorbike operators (bodabodas) and matatus also ferried passengers freely.
“It has been a tough last few weeks and I am so happy that we have resumed operations normally,” said Christina Njoki, a chapati seller at Imara Daima Stadium.
“I hope President William Ruto and Raila (Odinga) talks will be fruitful because we want to work in peace, There is no country that has ever benefitted from chaos.”
The demonstrations were called by Mr Odinga to pressure President William Ruto to address the cost of living and electoral reforms.
Consequently, Mr Odinga held several rallies and stop overs in Kawangware, Kibera, Mathare, Imara Daima, Pipeline, Eastleigh and Kamukunji.
The seasoned politician at one point threatened to storm the State House during the demos but did not actualize the threat.
The demonstrations turned rowdy at some point with police battling demonstrators, arresting others, and severely assaulting and injuring journalists covering the protests.
But then, everything changed for the better following a ceasefire between President Ruto and Mr Odinga.
While reaching out to Mr Odinga for a ceasefire, President Ruto announced that four people died, scores were injured and property worth millions of shillings was destroyed.
Mr Odinga responded by assuring Kenyans that he was ready to offer dialogue a chance.
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