NAIROBI, March 23 (Reuters) - Four Kenyan members of
parliament were charged on Thursday with unlawful assembly for
taking part this week in protests against President William
Ruto's government over the high cost of living, their lawyer
said.
One person was killed and more than 200 were arrested during
Monday's nationwide demonstrations, which were called by
opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The lawmakers, who included the leaders of Odinga's faction
in both houses of parliament, were arrested and then released on
bail, after being charged by the Kahawa court in Nairobi, their
lawyer Danstan Omari said.
Odinga, 78, has called for twice-weekly protests against the
government, citing the high cost of staples such as maize flour,
which has kept inflation high.
He also accuses Ruto of cheating in last year's presidential
election, the fifth in a row in which Odinga finished runner-up.
Odinga challenged the result last year before the Supreme Court,
which upheld Ruto's victory.
($1 = 131.2000 Kenyan shillings)
(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo
Writing by Hereward Holland
Editing by James Macharia Chege and Frances Kerry)
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