Raila Odinga’s Azimio plans mass anti-Ruto protests

Author: Chany Ninrew | Published: Friday, March 17, 2023

Azimio coalition leader Raila Odinga with Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musiyoka and other leaders at Mazembe Grounds in Kaptembwa, Nakuru Town West, during a rally on March 16, 2023. (Nation Media Group).

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga and his coalition have announced the beginning of mass action protests against President William Ruto’s administration, saying the demonstrations will be peaceful.

The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leaders on Thursday stormed Nakuru County with thousands of their supporters in what is seen as the tip of iceberg of a major demonstration in March 20, 2023.

Mr. Odinga, the head of Orange Democratic Movement and Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Democratic Movement warned warned foreign countries against interfering with Kenya’s affairs.

“We are aware that the government is using foreign missions to paint the opposition as anarchists. We call upon our friends in other countries not to interfere with our internal affairs,” said Kalonzo, according to Nation newspaper.

The Wiper Democratic Movement leader maintained that the Monday countrywide protests will be peaceful.

“We promise that on Monday, we will participate in peaceful demonstrations. Our match will be peaceful and will not target anyone. Whoever will bring violence is not part of us. We will demonstrate until William Ruto leaves the State House,” Kalonzo said.

On his part, Odinga, a longtime opposition leader and five-time presidential candidate said he will not be intimidated ahead of Monday’s countrywide protests.

Speaking at Mazembe Grounds in Nakuru, he also said the demonstrations will be peaceful but warned that he and his supporters “will not be cowed by veiled threats from the State.”

“We cannot be intimidated by William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua. I want to tell them that I fought for the second liberation in this country. The two cannot understand what I have gone through,” he said.

“I was arrested [and] charged in court and I went to prison in 1983 but was discharged for lack of evidence. I have been fighting for democracy and was put in detention for eight years when some of them were still breastfeeding.”

Odinga said the March 20 demonstrations will involve company boycotts, strikes and sit-ins in government offices.

It was announced after the end of the 14-day ultimatum, which he had issued to President Ruto to address the cost of living, open the 2022 presidential election servers and stop the process of appointing new members of the electoral agency, IEBC.

Meanwhile, President Ruto is accusing Raila of promoting impunity, with a clear agenda to destabilize his administration.

“You will not threaten this government with demonstrations,” Ruto told a local media.

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