Kenya and South Africa are anticipating anti-government protests led by opposition leaders on Monday amid tight security.
Kenya’s veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Azimio La Moja One Kenya coalition are planning a major demonstration against the government of President William Ruto, which he says is illegitimate.
Odinga said the March 20 rally is also agitating for solutions to the high cost of living, among other demands.
According to the BBC, Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the closure of its booking offices in the western city of Kisumu and South Africa’s Johannesburg on Monday due to the planned anti-government protests in both countries.
The KQ’s statement seen by the BBC reads: “The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers are our highest priority.”
Meanwhile in South Africa, opposition leader Julius Malema, of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is mobilizing a national shutdown, to push for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and demand an improvement on the southern African nation’s energy crisis.
Both administrations of presidents Ruto and Ramaphosa are opposed to the protests, which they term as illegal.
The BBC understands that South African has deployed over 3,000 soldiers across South Africa to help police maintain law and order in the country during the protests, local media reported.