The Kenyan government has condemned a plan by the opposition to widen its protests against President Mwai Kibaki's re-election to a boycott of companies.
The opposition, led by former Kibaki minister Raila Odinga, hopes increased pressure on the president will undermine his hold on power after a vote that most foreign and local observers agree was flawed.
After a bloody weekend that added to the death toll of around 650 since the December 27th vote, the Orange Democratic Movement vowed to continue street rallies from Thursday and also called for economic protests.
It has urged supporters to shun companies owned by Kibaki allies, including Equity Bank, Brookside Diaries and bus companies CityHoppa and Kenya Bus.
Boycotts would hurt the poor and inflame ethnic divisions, the government said. "Sabotage of companies (is) illegal and an insult to Kenyans," the government said. "Politicians are warned that they will be held personally responsible and accountable for any destruction of property emanating from their incitement."
The boycott call may be more symbolic than real, given that many of Kenya's poor use Equity because of its accessibility and low charges, while commuters in long queues may not want to wait even longer by shunning certain buses.
At least 30 people were killed over the weekend and some 250,000 have been displaced.