NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 23 – Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Leader Raila Odinga has insisted that the coalition’s demonstration will go on as planned despite calls from the religious community to engage in dialogue.
Odinga while attending a burial ceremony in Nyaribari Chache, Kisii County, he maintained that the demonstrations are legal as sovereign power belongs to the people.
Religious leaders and Non-Governmental Organizations had called upon Odinga to halt the demonstrations to allow space for talks with his erstwhile rival President William Ruto.
“Our constitution states that power belongs to the people and they can use it directly. We are saying all Kenyans have a right to associate, demonstrate, and to move around,”
“That’s why we are saying come Monday, let’s all come out for demonstrations,” said Odinga.
Odinga insisted that Kenyans must take action to agitate for the reduction of the high cost of living as well as electoral reforms.
He maintained that a unilateral Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission cannot conduct the 2027 general elections saying both political coalitions must undertake the process of reconstituting the poll agency.
“For an electoral commission to be constituted both Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio La Umoja must have a sit-down and secondly open the server if you indeed won,” said Odinga.
This is even as Opposition Leader scoffed at President William Ruto’s administration for seeking the privatization of government parastatals saying although he has a super majority in Parliament; the public will oppose the move through protests.
“They want to sell government parastatals and companies without seeking a nod from Parliament. They want to sell them to their friends and relatives and we are saying you cannot sell the public property without involving Parliament,” Odinga stated.
President William Ruto has dared Azimio Leader Raila Odinga to face him directly instead of harassing Kenyans with unnecessary mass protests.
President Ruto who spoke in Kitutu Chache North Constituency in Kisii County on Friday challenged Odinga to direct his issues to him having run against him in the August 2022 polls.
“Stop disturbing Kenyans and stop the arrogance and the contempt for ordinary people,” he said.
Odinga lost in the polls to President Ruto by a margin of 200, 000 votes and unsuccessfully challenged the outcome at the Supreme Court.
The Head of State underscored that Odinga’s game plan of mass protests would yield nothing substantial but only wreak havoc and further destabilize the country’s economy.
“The protests will not lower the country’s high cost of living and Odinga knows that. He should stop bothering and disturbing Kenyans,” he said.
He reiterated that he is ready and willing to work with leaders who support his government and agenda.
Odinga and his allies are already gearing up to protest on February 27, and 30, 2023 as they push the government to address their concerns key among others to lower the high cost of living and the need for electoral reforms in the country.
The President had previously warned that his administration will decisively deal with “economic terrorists” who are out to destabilize his government.
During the Azimio first Nairobi protests, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua disclosed that Sh2 billion was lost and urged the Azimio leaders to call off their protests.
“We are pleading with the Azimio leaders to call off their plans because it is hurting the economy,” he said.
Gachagua and Odinga have since ruled out calls from members of the clergy to give dialogue a chance in finding solutions to the issues raised.
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