Raila set for a major public rally in Kamukunji as a curtain raiser for new protests
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Raila set for a major public rally in Kamukunji as a curtain raiser for a new round of street protests despite peace talks with the government
Raila set for a major public rally in Kamukunji as a curtain raiser for a new round of street protests despite peace talks with the government.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga is set to hold a major public rally at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi, the first in a series of meetings lined up by the Opposition.
Raila Odinga, who has been holding consultative meetings with grassroots leaders, announced last week that he will be updating his supporters on his next move during Sunday’s rally.
A schedule released by the Azimio communications team said Odinga and other leaders will first attend a church service at St Stephen’s ACK church on Jogoo Road before heading to Kamukunji grounds for the rally.
“We have listened to you in these forums that we should continue with dialogue even as we stage demonstrations. We will continue with demonstrations and we will announce when the protest will be held after the Ramadhan period,” he said.
At the beginning of the month, Odinga called off the demonstrations to give room for dialogue between the two opposing sides.
Odinga’s plan to resume rallies and protests has thrown the planned bipartisan talks proposed by President William Ruto into disarray.
The two leaders are locked in a tussle on the reconstitution of the electoral commissioners which the president has said will only happen through bipartisan talks in Parliament.
But even though both sides have nominated their loyal members to take part in the talks, Odinga insists he wants the initiative expanded to be extra-parliamentary akin to the 2007/08 mediation talks led by former UN Secretary-General, the late Kofi Annan who led a political deal that got former President Mwai Kibaki to share power with Odinga who had disputed election results.
Raila allies have revealed that they have lined up a series of rallies as a build-up to the resumption of protests on a day Ruto’s supporters threatened to pull out of the talks.
Azimio has included human rights activists, faith-based organizations, student bodies, trade unions, farmers’ associations, small businesses, and civil society in his plans.
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Belgut MP, Nelson Koech, said President Ruto should withdraw from the talks “and focus on protecting Kenyans’ property” if Mr. Odinga insists on the demonstrations.
“There is no need for bipartisan talks if Mr. Odinga is not going to keep his end of the bargain and stop harassing small business people in the name of protests,” Mr. Koech said.
But Odinga’s allies say they are going back to the people to get their views as they accuse the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition of dishonesty.
“The talks have not officially started. Despite our good faith, the other side continues talking ill of us and the issues the opposition has raised. We are going to the people to inform them what we have put on the table and if we should continue with the talks,” ODM Deputy Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya said.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni accused Kenya Kwanza of reneging on an agreement to have the talks outside Parliament.
“The only language these people understand is mass action. We will hold demonstrations until our people have food,” Mr. Kioni said.
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