Hundreds of Kenyans Protest in Nairobi CBD over High Cost of Living

Hundreds of Kenyans on Thursday took to the streets of Nairobi to protest the high cost of living even as they threatened to boycott the upcoming elections.

Carrying sufurias, plates, and empty packets of sugar and flour, the protestors went around Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) before marching to the Office of the President at Harambee House.

“Our elected leaders have failed us and Kenyans are going through so much and that is why we are here to demand for the reduction of prices for basic commodities,” one of the protestors told journalists.

Another activist faulted the government for blaming the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the high cost of living, saying the war has only worsened the situation.

“The prices of food were high even before the issue of Ukraine came, we are in this situation because of too much borrowing and the money goes into the pockets of a few,” he stated.

And with barely 30 days to the August 9th elections, the protestors accused Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition flagbearer Raila Odinga, who are the two front runners in the forthcoming presidential election, of giving empty promises instead offering solutions.

“Raila is a friend of the president so it’s just a phone call away, Ruto has been in government for ten years and he is also giving promises, why can’t they help us now?” a protester wondered.

On Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna said President Kenyatta has no individual powers to avert the rising cost of living, saying the situation is not unique to Kenya.

“It is not fair to put this blame on one person, it is not the President. There is a neighboring country where the president told citizens to expect a rise in the cost of living, they understood…. But here we are blaming Uhuru. It is not him, he has no individual powers,” Oguna said in a radio interview.

He attributed the rising inflation to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying Uhuru has no control over it. 

Currently, a liter of cooking oil costs an average of Sh400 while maize and wheat flour prices are retailing at Sh230 per 2kg packet. A liter of super petrol has hit Sh160.