How Raila kept police busy chasing after his motorcade while hold up in a meeting
Raila kept the government guessing as he failed to turn up for the mass demonstration with the police chasing after his motorcade the whole day
Raila kept the government guessing as he failed to turn up for the mass demonstration with the police chasing after his motorcade the whole day.
As the opposition accused the administration of promoting violence, the anticipated major confrontation between supporters of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and the government ended up being a low-key fair.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga had been unequivocal that the anti-government protests would begin as early as 6 am while President William Ruto vowed his administration would not allow the demonstrations that had turned violent in the past.
The leaders of Azimio, however, kept the government guessing yesterday only to emerge after 4 pm to announce further protests on Thursday.
Azimio la Umoja leaders failed to turn up for anti-government protests that began from Kawangware through Kangemi-Waiyaki way all the way to Kiambu County.
The police chased the convoy all the way in the assumption that Mr. Odinga was leading the protest only to emerge that the Azimio leader was holed in a meeting.
Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party, earlier, claimed a successful procession, noting that the police accorded them respect during the demonstration.
“We have had a peaceful procession from Kawangware-Kangemi-Waruku-Westlands-Parklands-Muthaiga-Kiambu Rd with a full escort of the police in 15 land cruisers.
The coalition leaders were held up in a meeting at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Upper Hill, Nairobi, where they discussed a number of issues pertaining to the bipartisan talks.
At the complex, Raila together with other Azimio la Umoja leaders, held a Press Conference where they condemned what the coalition termed as unwarranted attacks on civilians by police officers.
“Tomorrow (Wednesday), we take a break to strategize and recharge. Our protests will resume on Thursday, May 4. Same meeting point. Same offices. Same petitions. Same people,” said Mr Odinga yesterday.
The opposition leaders accused the government of deploying police and goons to scuttle the demonstrations.
“We laud the patriots who woke up early to defend their ideals despite unsupervised police brutality,” a statement read in parts.
But authorities cited the setting ablaze of a matatu and a trailer as well as the looting of a petrol station to show that the protests were not peaceful.
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During the press conference, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua delivered a scathing condemnation of the Kenya Kwanza government.
Ms. Karua condemned the government for unleashing police and hiring hooligans to cause mayhem and destroy property.
She explained that the chaos and police brutality were the reasons why they could not present their petitions to four public offices as earlier planned.
Ms. Karua stated that on Monday, all Azimio leaders, including Mr. Odinga and Mr. Musyoka, had their security withdrawn.
“There is a slow but steady attempt to introduce martial law in Kenya. We know who Mr. Ruto is learning from. We won’t allow it. We will resist. As a country, we have come too far to look back,” she said.
The former minister accused the government of engaging in intimidation and blackmail and setting the stage for assassinations.
“They have beaten up innocent citizens going about their normal activities, stoned motorists, and burnt vehicles in a vain attempt to make the prophecies of Kenya Kwanza come true. Kenya is the loser in all this,” Ms Karua said.
Also read,
Government withdraws security officers attached to Azimio leaders ahead of demonstrations
Ruto bipartisan team pleads with Azimio to return to negotiating table as demonstrations resume
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