Raila lines up more rallies as NCIC urges him to go slow

Opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday vowed to press on with his anti-government rallies even as pressure mounted on him to call them off.

Raila, through Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi, announced the next round of rallies starting with Kibra, Nairobi on Sunday, even as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) warned that the events were causing tension in the country.

The commission warned that those who address the rallies will be held responsible for their utterances.

“We cannot afford to slide back. Everyone will be held responsible for their utterances, they cannot hide behind the rallies,” NCIC chairperson Dr. Samuel Kobia said.

He said the rallies as well as demonstrations risk polarising the country.

“The international community is keen on what is happening in Kenya. Our relationship with the international community is sensitive to things that destabilise peace and cohesion in the country,” he said.

“The rallies that were held recently saw a spike in hate speech and misinformation, a move likely to get out of hand if unchecked. In January alone, there were ten hate speech cases and 20 misinformation cases had been recorded and are being investigated.”

But undeterred, Raila, through Wandayi, announced that the next rally will be held in Kibra on Sunday.

From Kibra, the Azimio team will head to Mavoko in neighbouring Machakos County on Friday.

Wandayi said the fora will be used to deliberate on how to push President William Ruto’s administration to address challenges facing Kenyans.

“On Sunday, February 5, 2023, we will hold a Baraza at the Kamukunji grounds in Kibra Constituency. This will be followed by another Baraza on Friday February 10, 2023, this time in Mavoko, Machakos County,” Wandayi said in a statement.