By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
National protests have hit Kenya on Monday following a hike in fuel prices in the East African country, leading to the death of at least four people, under unclear circumstances. The rising fuel prices have led to frayed nerves due to higher transportation costs, forcing protesters to ground activities in all major cities in Kenya on Monday.
The protest, which erupted suddenly, forced city minibuses out of the roads as fires, stones, and other objects were used by angry porters to litter and block the roads. The situation, which escalated and forced people to become stranded in cities like Nairobi, Nyeri, Mombasa, Nakuru, and elsewhere, practically crippled the economy of the country.
Although the authorities say the increase in fuel prices was shaped by global shock, Kenyans appear not to be listening. Weeks ago, President William Ruto explained that the rise in fuel prices was because of the global shock occasioned by the tussle between the US and Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the war involving the US and Israel against Iran. However, from yesterday’s protest, those explanations have failed to be accepted by the people. In different parts of the world, there is a sharp increase in fuel prices. In Nigeria, the increase in fuel prices has crossed 30%.
However, the police and other law enforcement agencies were deployed to restore order across Kenyan cities, which were worst hit by the unrest.
