‘Economic Saboteurs’ – Nakuru Governor Kihika hits out at Azimio over demos

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has hit out at the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party for their weekly protests against the government.

While claiming the opposition leaders are self-centred, and would not care if the country burned, Kihika suggested there is no need to hold elections if the losers do not accept their outcome.

"Honestly, what’s the point of elections? RAO (Raila Amolo Odinga) and his crew lost the elections, now they want to get into government by whatever means possible, whether people die, properties are destroyed, or the country burns!

"I love peace, I want peace, but we must give in to these economic saboteurs who don’t mind burning our country for their selfish personal interests! Enough is enough!" Kihika said in a statement.

Relentless Azimio

The opposition has been holding country-wide demonstrations against the government and has organized a three-day protest that will run from Wednesday to Friday.

Azimio has been relentless in their demands, which include a reduction in the high cost of living and a repeal of the controversial Finance Act.

As the opposition waits to hit the streets once more, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the government has deployed its resources to counter them accordingly.

"There have been media and public reports that the same organizers and architects of last week’s violence, which resulted in the death and injury of innocent Kenyans, massive plunder of private property, arson on government buildings, and disruption of businesses, plan to yet again unleash terror and fresh violence on Kenyans tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday. They have also threatened to turn the wave of violence into a weekly and perhaps daily affair.

"Intelligence reports confirm these media and public reports as accurate and verifiable. Accordingly, national security agencies have deployed all the available resources to ensure that the scenes witnessed on Wednesday do not happen again. Anyone planning to unleash violence on Kenyans is hereby warned to cease and desist," Kindiki said in a statement to the media.

Kindiki and Murkomen's stance

While Kindiki affirms his opposition to the Azimio protests, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on Odinga and his allies to resume talks and ease tension in the country.

"Now that Azimio are clear that they don’t want to be part of the government in any form or shape, whether it is 'nusu mkate' or handshake, then I don’t see the reason why we can’t prosecute the issues raised using our democratic institutions.

"President (William) Ruto offered dialogue as a solution, and those of us in government supported his proposal a hundred per cent without exception. I urge our Azimio friends to be mindful of the nation and resume the talks," part of Murkomen's statement read.

Before, Ruto and Azimio had agreed on bipartisan talks, which later collapsed as each side claimed there was a lack of genuineness on the part of opponents, to resolve the grievances.

• Susan Kihika