List: Protests taking place in Kenya today

**Police officers patrol the Kisii-Migori highway during anti-government protests on July 12, 2023.** [Sammy Omingo, Standard].

Three planned demonstrations will be rocking the country today, Wednesday, July 12, resulting in disruptions nationwide.

The protests stem from the newly imposed taxes on petroleum products and the high cost of living.

The protests include:

Azimio la Umoja protests

The Azimio la Umoja coalition protests are already underway in several parts of Kenya.

Azimio chief Raila Odinga has rallied his supporters to a peaceful march against President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration which he maintains is illegitimate.

On Tuesday, Odinga, during the launch of the Tumechoka Citizens Initiative which is a digital signature collection platform that targets 15 million signatures, said at least 1.2 million people had already appended their signatures towards the impeachment of President Ruto.

The Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has, however, outlawed the Azimio protests saying Odinga's team had not notified the police.

Public Service Vehicles/Matatu operators strike

Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) operators issued a strike notice slated for Wednesday over the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) directive on mandatory re-testing of drivers.

They were supported by long distance drivers and boda boda operators who also noted that the re-testing was aimed at frustrating them.

But Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday, in a bid to avert the strike, halted the retesting until September 1.

"The Ministry and the stakeholders have agreed on the formation of a multi-agency committee that will among others review the grievances raised by the drivers and conductors. We have agreed as well that they shall submit the names of the officials representing all the industry players by August 1, 2023,” said Murkomen.

However, a spot check by The Standard shows that some matatus halted their services on Wednesday, leaving passengers stranded.

In some parts of the country, hundreds of residents had to walk to work as PSVs that risked their usual commute were stopped and passengers asked to alight along the way for fear of retaliation.