Raila 'Declares' March 20th a ‘Public Holiday’ for Kenyans to Participate in Mass Action

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has 'declared' March 20th a public holiday to allow Kenyans to take part in the planned mass action.

Odinga, who spoke during a public rally in Siaya on Tuesday, urged Kenyans to actively participate in the planned countrywide protests to force President Ruto’s administration to lower the cost of living among other demands.

"We do not want any kind of violence or bloodshed. It is going to be peaceful and I have also said that we do not want any handshake. We are only doing this because it is the only alternative that we have,” he said.

"In the name of Azimio one Kenya Alliance, we declare that Monday, March 20th will be a public holiday.”

Odinga made the declaration after a request by Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, who said the public holiday will allow working Kenyans to participate in mass action.

 “I am requesting Raila to declare that day a public holiday to allow us to complete this work. We cannot keep having elections rigging every year, it has to stop,” said Karua.

She added: "The people must use their constitutional right to ensure that they allow the person who was chosen by the people to take over the leadership of the country. Let us join the rally to save this nation. This fight is for the people of Kenya.”

At the same time, Odinga dismissed calls by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) to defer the protests, saying that the Kenya Kwanza government has ignored their demands.

"A group of the clergy through the NCCK have appealed to me…I want to tell them in response that we people of Azimio came to the conclusion that we need to have a protest after our ultimatum was completely ignored," Odinga noted.

Under the Kenyan Constitution, only the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior can declare a public holiday.