Raila Vows to Continue with Planned Protests Despite Police Ban

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has affirmed that the planned protests in Nairobi will go on despite the police declaring the demos illegal and repeated threats of assassination of opposition leaders by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Trade CS Moses Kuria.

Odinga, through a statement on Sunday, insisted that the opposition is exercising their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peaceably and unarmed.

He announced that during the protests slated for Tuesday, members of the opposition will present petitions to four government offices to compel President Ruto’s administration to heed their demands.

“We shall also petition IEBC against the sacking of the four commissioners because it presents a dangerous precedent in which in all future elections, all commissioners will be required to agree with the chairperson of IEBC, effectively making the election a one-person show,” he said.

Azimio will also present a petition to the Office of the President to prove that the cost of food, fuel, electricity, and fees remain unacceptably high.

“We will further petition OP to desist from invading and destroying rival political parties as was attempted on Jubilee headquarters and through the auction of MPs in Parliament,” he added.

The other petition will be presented to the National Treasury demanding the immediate release of all funds owed to counties and the timely payment of salaries to all civil servants.

“We plan to visit the Public Service Commission on the day to demand that appointments to public offices be done purely on the basis of merit and inclusivity, not tribe as is presently the case. We cannot have a country of close to 50 tribes where appointments go only to members of one tribe,” Odinga stated.

Odinga and Azimio announced they would resume weekly protests, citing the Kenya Kwanza administration’s failure to commit to holding constructive bipartisan talks.

“We shall not agree to be cowed into silence when so many things are going wrong in the country; with cults that enjoy patronage and protection from State House killing Kenyans, including children, in their hundreds, goons hired by the state invading and destroying private property, massive corruption making a grand return to the country and tribalism taking an unprecedented sway in public offices,” Odinga said.