Azimio top organ chaired by Uhuru sanctions anti-William Ruto protests
3 min read
Azimio top organ chaired by Uhuru sanctions anti-William Ruto protests that are set to run for the next 30 days
Azimio top organ chaired by Uhuru sanctions anti-William Ruto protests that are set to run for the next 30 days.
Leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Raila Odinga will lay out his anti-government policies today as he begins a 30-day struggle against President William Ruto’s administration.
According to a report by the Daily Nation, the coalition’s top decision-making organ — The Council, chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta — has sanctioned the meetings.
The anti-Ruto meetings will begin today at Kamukunji grounds in Kibra with the Azimio brigade, and on December 12 there will be a simultaneous Jamhuri Day celebration at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi.
The opposition is anticipated to step up its efforts and mobilize the populace to demand answers from Ruto’s administration regarding its failure to keep its promises as his first 100 days in office will come to an end.
Through the public consultative forums, Raila Odinga’s camp has planned a number of activities for the upcoming 30 days. According to insiders in his camp, these activities will be carried out using a multi-pronged strategy, including parliamentary initiatives, judicial actions, and the court of public opinion.
Mr. Odinga will launch his consultative forums on a range of issues through Article 37 of the Constitution, which addresses the assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petitions, and under Article 1 of the Constitution, which grants the people of Kenya sovereign power.
They include the high cost of living, forcible ejection of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners, the arbitrary sacking of civil servants, unfulfilled campaign promises, lack of ethnic balance in appointments, and disregard of Chapter Six of the Constitution in appointments, as well as unpopular policies like the importation of genetically modified maize.
“The consultations are also about the IEBC, which is being cannibalized, the consequences of which shall be grim. We will, therefore, be gathering to discuss the general state of affairs of our nation and the direction the regime is taking,” Mr. Odinga said.
The 30-day consultative marathon, he noted, will see the coalition leaders crisscross the country, visiting major towns and its bases of Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Kakamega, among other regions.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has reportedly given the plans a fresh impetus and is said to have advised his Jubilee party leadership and reached out to Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi to take part in the Azimio plans as the collective responsibility of the coalition.
Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat had earlier stated that whereas their parties still belong in Azimio, they would not take part in the rallies.
Mr. Salat had said the party feels left out on key issues in the alliance.
However, Mr. Kioni and Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe were there on Monday during Mr. Odinga’s briefing at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation. According to insiders, Mr. Kenyatta had persuaded them to attend as part of the process.
“Azimio One Kenya coalition is more united than ever,” Mr. Moi’s party, Kanu, also tweeted on Monday as a sign of collective responsibility in the coalition.
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