President William Ruto has ordered Azimio leader Raila Odinga to quit "planning disruption" and start getting ready for the 2027 election.
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The President, who won the election in August 2022, asserted that he would still triumph over Odinga, who unsuccessfully appealed the election results to the Supreme Court.
"During the campaigns, I promised you that I would beat the opposition leader. During a tour of Kisii on Thursday, he declared, "And I did so, fair and square.
The President asserted that protests wouldn't affect the reality that the election results last year were clear and that he was rightfully elected President of Kenya.
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The President began a three-day visit to Kisii, Nyamira, and Migori counties while giving a speech at Rigoma in Kitutu Masaba, Nyamira County.
On Monday, Odinga organized large-scale rallies, and he plans to do the same on Monday and Thursday the following week, accusing the government of failing to lower the high cost of living. He calls Ruto an illegitimate president and maintains that he won the election despite the Supreme Court rejecting his petition in which he presented evidence that the judges described as "hot air."
Following the opposition leader's call for a day of action to protest the acute cost of the nation's living problem, hundreds of people came to the streets in Nairobi, the country's capital, and other areas of Kenya.
Kenyans are struggling with rising prices for basics, a severe reduction in the value of the local currency (the shilling) relative to the US dollar, and a severe drought that has left millions of people starving.
However, government insiders have characterized Odinga's protests as more of a reaction to the defeat he suffered at the hands of Ruto, and they have accused him of blackmailing the President to make room for him in government, as was the case under the previous two administrations. Notwithstanding what Odinga claims, he is not seeking a handshake with Ruto.
The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) and the Supreme Court were both given the authority to decide on electoral problems. The President has instructed Odinga to respect these institutions because they did their jobs well.
During the demonstrations on Monday, Odinga said he had proof from a leaker that he had won the poll over Ruto.
However, Ruto has disregarded him, claiming that "it is not the alleged manufactured whistleblower who decides who wins elections. Institutions with that authority have recognized my legitimacy as President.
President Ruto pleaded with the opposition to stop their violent protests and give him time to change the nation.
On Monday, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters, some of whom were engaging in street brawls with riot gear-clad officers while others were throwing rocks and burning tires.
Since Ruto took power six months ago after barely defeating Odinga in an election that his defeated challenger alleges was "stolen," there has been no worse violence than this.
At Maseno University in western Kenya, more than 200 people were detained, including four leaders, and one student was slain.
This week, Ruto promised, "Under the rule of law, the administration will take aggressive measures to honour and protect the rights of all while proving that no one is above the law by resolutely combatting impunity, lawlessness, and chaos."
He also stated that his " responsibility is to defend the rights of all Kenyans against any dangers." I owe it to the business owners around the nation whose properties were vandalized and plundered by demonstrators incited by careless and irresponsible politicians.
He declared that he is prepared to collaborate with all elected officials, regardless of their political allegiances, to achieve the nation's development program for the benefit of its citizens.
"After the election, Kenyans chose their President. They ought to give me room to transform Kenya, provide young people with work, and enable our farmers to increase food production to end hunger".
The nation's economy will continue to collapse until the anarchy ends, according to deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
He claimed that during the mayhem on Monday, around Sh2 billion (about $15 million) was lost, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has warned that further chaos will damage the city.
