Raila announces 5-day protest break to mourn supporters ki*led in demos

Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga says the opposition will observe five days of mourning in honour of supporters killed during the anti-government demonstrations on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices in Nairobi on Thursday, Raila said the coalition will also use the break to mobilize resources to support bereaved families.

"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.

Consequently, the opposition chief announced that the third round of anti-government demonstrations will 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."

At the same time, Raila condemned what he termed as senseless brutality meted on Azimio supporters by the police yesterday.

"We are deeply concerned at the repeated instances of police brutality against innocent and law-abiding civilians. Yesterday, this brutality gained a higher notoriety," he added.

"Police not only fired bullets at citizens who were gathering for a rally in Kamukunji, far from the Central Business District. They also fired teargas into a primary school in Kawangware, exposing to mortal danger innocent children who had absolutely no idea what was going on around them."

He indicated that the opposition would pursue justice for the victims through the courts.

"We are going for individual responsibility and culpability against officers," Raila threatened.

"We are also going for individual culpability against police commanders whom we have reason to believe know or ought to have known about the illegal actions of the officers under their command."

Three people were shot dead in a confrontation with the police during the anti-government demonstrations in Mulolongo, Machakos County. At least two other people were killed in various parts of the country in the protests against the rising cost of living.