Kisumu leaders have taken to the streets in solidarity with protesters throughout the lakeside city.
On Thursday morning, Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili and Seme MP James Nyikal joined hundreds of protesters in the streets as the Azimio One Kenya Coalition held its third anti-government demonstration.
Owili and Nyikal were seen on top of their cars, accompanied by large crowds of residents, some on foot and others on motorbikes. On Wednesday, Governor Anyang Nyong’o reversed his earlier decision to ban protests in the county.
In order for us to participate in protests in Nairobi, all public demonstrations within Kisumu County have been temporarily suspended as of today, according to Nyong’o.
He said that hooligans had infiltrated the protests, vandalizing property and intimidating defenseless bystanders. But, Nyong’o made a rapid retreat and called a press conference at Kisumu City Hall, where he reversed his earlier directive.