Uhuru, Moi skip Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and KANU chairman Gideon Moi have skipped Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party parliamentary group meeting held on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Uhuru, who serves as the Azimio council chairman sent an apology to the group, without specifying publicly the reason that made him skip the meeting. The KANU party chairman also did not give his reasons.
In his remarks to the parliamentarians, Azimio leader Raila Odinga accused Kenya Kwanza of rigging the 2022 Presidential polls, and even laying ground for another rigging in 2027.
"Late last year, we launched investigations into the conduct and results of the 2022 election. We were prompted by a firm belief that the election was fraudulent and the results rigged. The investigation confirmed our fears. The election had been stolen," Raila said.
"Kenya Kwanza proceeded to lay ground for rigging the 2027 election by forcing out four IEBC commissioners then embarking on the process of single handedly reconstituting the commission to the exclusion of all other stakeholders."
Raila also accused the government of orchestrating hard times for Kenyans by removing subsidies on basic commodities such as food and fuel.
"We launched the investigations against the backdrop of a worsening economic situation in the country. After stealing the people's mandate, the Kenya Kwanza regime embarked on rendering Kenyans economically impotent and desperate. The regime removed subsidies on basic commodities and raised taxes on those commodities. Immediately, unga, electricity, fuel, bus fare and school fees became unaffordable," Raila added.
Raila on Azimio demos
He said that the main aim of the recent anti-government protests was aimed at rejecting the 2022 election results, demanding a complete audit of the IEBC servers as well as lowering the cost of living.
"We called upon Kenyans to reject the punitive UDA policies that are making life unbearable and demanded the restoration of subsidies to unga, fuel, electricity and school fees. We also called for the removal of the punitive taxes that have led to a steep rise in the cost basic goods like unga and fuel. We called for Reform and reconstitution of the IEBC in consultation with all players. We also called for an end to the politicization and commercialization of the civil service and the sacking of civil servants on account of tribe and having served in the previous regime," he added.
He claimed that he survived an assassination attempt alongside Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in what he termed as attacks by Kenya Kwanza using goons and the police.
"We took to the streets. Kenya Kwanza followed us there with guns, goons, water cannons and teargas. In those attacks, I survived an assassination attempt. Kalonzo Musyoka survived an assassination attempt. Innocent lives were lost. Property was destroyed. In a first in our country, an immediate former President, Uhuru Kenyatta had his farm attacked and destroyed," he added.
Azimio has also demanded that the ruling coalition respect the spirit and letter of multiparty democracy in Parliament.
