No retreat: Raila says bi-weekly anti-government protests wi*l go on as planned
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has insisted that the planned mass protests across the country will go on as planned.
Speaking in Nyaribari Chache constituency, a few kilometres from Nyaribari Masaba where President William Ruto was attending a thanks giving ceremony for the appointment of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Raila insisted that the opposition would not retreat until their mission was accomplished.
Raila has listed five reasons for the opposition's calls for peaceful demonstrations, including the high cost of living, electoral injustice, nepotism in state appointments, the sacking of civil servants and defence for democracy.
Adding to the list, Raila introduced the issue of privatization of government parastatals as one of the reasons he intends to intensify countrywide demos on Monday. According to Raila, Kenyans can no longer trust Members of Parliament whom he accused of being "auctioned".
Raila, who was accompanied by ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya and Migori Senator Eddy Oketch was attending the burial of the late Mama Truphena Moraa Ontegi, the mother to veteran politician Jackson Mogusu.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, opposition leader Raila Odinga said the anti-government protests that began on Monday will be held every Monday and Thursday from next week.
"In response to public demand, we shall now hold protests every Thursday and Monday beginning next week," Raila said.
Raila vs Nairobi police boss
The announcement comes despite Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei terming Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition's notification for Monday and Thursday anti-government protests as null and void.
In a statement, Bungei advised Azimio to address their notification to the Officer Commanding Police Station (OCS) of the area where they expect to stage their procession.
“We have procedures on how we serve the letters for protest or picketing, as guided by the law. Under Section 2 of the Public Order Act, it is indicated very clearly who is the regulating officer of the permits to be issued – it is the officer in charge of a police station. At this level of mine, this is a regional command, whereby we dispense services to the police stations,” Bungei said.
