Azimio to hold protests thrice next week due to ‘public demand’

Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition has announced plans to intensify anti-government protests next week due to what it terms as overwhelming public demand.

In a statement on Friday, July 14, the opposition coalition said the demonstrations will be held thrice next week — on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — a move that could cripple the country's struggling economy.

"Further to the communication issued yesterday on the Third Wave of peaceful protests scheduled to start on Wednesday next week, and following overwhelming requests from all sectors of the Kenyan Public for the need to intensify these demonstrations, the Coalition hereby wishes to announce a revision of the calendar.

"Going forward, the peaceful protests will now be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week, in line with requests from the public to include three days of activity. Let's meet on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday," the statement read.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga yesterday said the protests will take a five-day break to mourn Kenyans killed by the police during Wednesday's demonstrations.

"We have made a decision to observe five days of mourning and solidarity with the victims and their families during which we will try our level best to mobilize support to help lessen the burden on the families of victims," Raila said.

He said the third round of the protests would resume on Wednesday, July 19.

"But we are not giving up in our quest to force Mr. William Ruto (President) to lower the cost of living, respect the views of Kenyans, reconstitute the IEBC in a bipartisan manner and respect political parties," he added.

"There is no looking back. There is no turning back."

The protests are aimed at piling pressure on the Kenya Kwanza government to address the high cost of living, repeal the Finance Act 2023 as well as stop the ongoing exercise of recruiting new electoral commissioners.