Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader, has accepted to suspend protests against President Willaim Ruto’s election following an appeal issued by the president in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday. 

Mr Odinga had indicated readiness to chat with the president, according to VOA news. 

The opposition leader, before calling off the protest, had written on his Twitter, on Sunday, “we are all ready and set for #MegaMonday.”

Mr Odinga had claimed that he won the August election and asked Ruto to “vacate his office immediately.”

The previous week, Mr Odinga said that he had been attacked and seven bullets targeted at him were shot at his car. Addressing reporters, he said that there is “no justification for the excessive force used against peaceful unarmed citizens exercising their democratic rights.”

President Ruto had in his Sunday broadcast condemned the violence that was orchestrated by individuals who, according to him, were taking advantage of the opposition’s political demonstrations.

“Our country has experienced grave act of lawlessness, widespread violence looting and invasion of private property by persons taking advantage of political demonstrations called by the opposition,” he said in what was his first public appearance since the protests over election manipulation and high cost of living.

Further into his speech, he appealed to his opposition to call off the Monday protest, stating that the August election had been free and fair and hoped that the opposition claim of the election manipulation can be handled by a bipartisan group in parliament.

The protest which had been organised by Mr Odinga started March 20, has already recorded three deaths and 400 people injured. In what could worsen the figures, Mr Odinga warned that if government does not sort out the issue, the protests will resume.

Over 20 journalists have also been harrassed and attacked with Mr Ruto condemning the attack, saying that the country would not accept any action that put the media in danger.