Former Prime Minister and Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga on Monday, July 10, walked and later boarded a matatu to work as he steps up his protest against the rising cost of living.
The Azimio La Umoja leader's Monday stunt comes on the back of fresh calls to Kenyans to walk to work and boycott buying fuel which the coalition insists is out of ordinary Kenyans' reach.
President William Ruto assented to the Finance Act, 2023, which saw the cost of petrol hit a record high of Ksh195 in Nairobi. The price of fuel has an impact on the cost of other commodities such as food items.
Raila has mounted a new round of anti-government protests with a planned demonstration on Wednesday, July 12, across the country.
According to Raila, the Finance Act 2023 introduced a number of new taxes, including a tax on petroleum products, a housing levy, and an insurance compensation levy which he terms as "a betrayal of the Kenyan people".
The veteran opposition politician was accompanied by his bodyguard and other Azimio leaders. He even bought a newspaper at the bus stop, mirroring the day-to-day life of ordinary Kenyans.
In a video circulating online and seen by Kenyans.co.ke, onlookers gathered and cheered as the ODM leader prepared to board the bus.
Raila shared greetings with the seemingly happy people who had gathered before stopping a bus to CBD.
"Baba you must not stop. Continue pressing on until such a time when the traffic police shall have stopped taking bribes and fuel prices significantly reduced," a Matatu conductor implored Raila.
In the video, Raila shared pleasantries with other passengers while others took selfies to share the rare moment.
The matatu, which plies the Rongai-Langata-Route, operated normally, picking up passengers along the way and blasting music.
Raila is expected to lead another round of protests this week after a big rally last week to mark Saba Saba and go back to the streets after the bipartisan talks launched in March collapsed.
The new calls have been fuelled by the Finance Act which has introduced new taxes and levies that will see workers' payslips shrink and cost of goods go up.
The opposition leader at a rally on Friday, July 7, at Kamukunji Grounds said that was the beginning of anti-Ruto protests, accusing the current administration of failing to listen to the plight of ordinary Kenyans.
The government for its part has maintained the Finance Act will raise more revenues amid debt stress that has reduced the money going to development.
