How Ruto is planning to stop Raila ahead of Monday demonstration
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Ruto in the race to stop Raila Odinga amid claims of security withdrawal ahead of the Monday demonstration
Ruto in the race to stop Raila Odinga amid claims of security withdrawal ahead of the Monday demonstration.
The government has implemented plans to quell rallies led by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Some lawmakers allied to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition chief say their bodyguards have been withdrawn.
Others claim to be facing threats of arrest even as the government seeks to have Western countries impose sanctions on the opposition leaders they accuse of seeking to plunge the country into chaos.
Azimio elected leaders have termed security withdrawal as a desperate attempt by the government to stop them from protesting.
They added that the withdrawal of their security is part of a plan to expose them “to possible elimination by criminal elements recruited by senior government politicians”.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Nairobi Senator and Orange Democratic Movement Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said opposition lawmakers have had their security withdrawn.
“Mine left on Thursday night but I am not bothered since my protection comes from God. We are not new to this kind of situation,” Mr Wandayi said.
“We have been there many times. We are not the kind of people to be intimidated. We will push the people’s agenda to its logical conclusion.”
Mr. Sifuna also said police officers attached to opposition politicians have been withdrawn.
“They are using all means to sabotage a constitutional right. We will not be cowed,” Senator Sifuna said.
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“The plan is to first shut down media coverage and allow the criminal elements (Deputy President Rigathi) Gachagua is mobilizing to…harm demonstrators and Azimio leaders. Anyone who tries to harm us will be surprised.”
Mr. Amollo said exposing opposition lawmakers “for elimination” would be costly for the country.
“So the illegitimate regime believes we will be cowed by the withdrawal of our security? Our resolve becomes stronger. The cost of a by-election for a dead MP is Sh1 million times what protection costs,” the Rarieda MP said.
The government had also plans to crack down on live coverage of the protests but were thwarted by a restraining order issued by the High Court on Friday.
Meanwhile, despite threats, Raila Odinga has vowed to carry on with his marches, describing next week’s Monday and Thursday protests as the “mother of all demonstrations”.
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