Ruto dares Raila over planned demos
President William Ruto has dared Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga over planned anti-government protests on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Speaking on Friday, April 28, 2023, Ruto said he would not allow Azimio and its followers to "destroy property".
"I've heard they want to go to the city centre (in Nairobi) to destroy property and cause violence. That will not be possible. I am the President of Kenya. Enough is enough. I want to tell them, let them not think that just because we have accepted dialogue they can bring jokes. The election is done and Kenyans decided," Ruto said.
Raila's homecoming
This comes hours before Raila jets into the country with a planned grand reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and then a procession to Kamkunji grounds in Kibra before proceeding to Nairobi's CBD.
Raila, who has been out of the country on personal matters, is expected to address a rally at Kamukunji Grounds, Kibra constituency, when he arrives in the country.
The event is seen as a dress rehearsal for the next round of protests to push the government to act on several demands, including lowering the cost of living and opening of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers.
Azimio wants food and fuel subsidies scrapped by President William Ruto’s administration restored. The administration said the subsidies were only beneficial to cartels.
“On Friday, 28th April 2023, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga will return to the country from his brief stay abroad. As a party, we are gearing up to accord him a grand welcome on arrival at the JKIA, then join him in a grand procession to the People’s Baraza at Kamukunji Grounds, Kibra Constituency, on the same day. The Rt. Hon. Odinga will address the nation at the said meeting. The Kibra People’s Baraza will also set the stage for the peaceful mass action that is set to resume in Nairobi on 2nd May 2023, as earlier announced,” said Wandayi.
He added: “We appeal to all supporters of our quest for a just, fair and democratic nation that prioritises its citizens, to turn up in large numbers and welcome Rt. Hon. Odinga home and attend the Kibra rally. We further appeal to everyone attending the twin events to maintain peace and order as we have done in the past.”
Wandayi’s statement comes a day after Azimio National Executive Council chairman Wycliffe Oparanya announced that the Opposition outfit would resume weekly protests next Tuesday, citing lack of commitment to the bipartisan talks by the government’s side.
