Azimio Protests: Kindiki Furious At Raila, Threatens To Arrest Him
He accused the propagators of the violence of borrowing a leaf from individuals allied to Raila, a man the CS termed as one who has grown fond of violent politics.
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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, July 12 laid blame on Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga over the Wednesday protests, warning that the government will not relent in taking action against the organisers of the protests and Kenyans involved in destroying infrastructure and property.
In a statement that was first published by Gerald Bitok, the Director of Public Communication at State House, Kindiki noted that some parts of Nairobi and a few other towns across the country witnessed widespread violence, looting and destruction of private and public property.
He accused the propagators of the violence of borrowing a leaf from individuals allied to Raila, a man the CS termed as one who has grown fond of violent politics.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki during a past address at Harambee House. /MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
"The authors of today's orgy of violence and destruction took a cue from a small group of former and current politicians coalescing around Mr Raila Odinga, whose association with violent politics in Kenya is now legendary.
"From the 1982 attempted coup-de-tat to the 2007/08 post-election violence, this same politician and his collaborators, then and now, are associated with risky politics that has occasionally plunged our Country into near destruction," he stated.
Kindiki further accused Raila of intimidating the country through violence following the 2017 general elections alongside his believers in complete disregard to the pronouncement of Kenya's Constitutionally established institutions
This, he added, resulted in a period of government excesses and accumulation of huge national debt and an upsurge in the cost of living, consequences which Kenya is still struggling to recover from.
The CS accused Raila and his allies of executing a de-ja-vu scenario through the lawlessness exercised during the Wednesday protests which have even witnessed the destruction of the country's major infrastructure such as the Nairobi Expressway.
"In a most characteristic manner, the architect of today's lawlessness and impunity, together with his co-conspirators have once again overseen a day of shameless and unprovoked looting of private premises, illegal obstruction of economic activities, and extensive damage of major public assets and infrastructure built on the sweat of the taxes of the people of Kenya.
"They lied to the Police that they would be holding a peaceful political rally at the Kamukunji grounds, only for them to unleash terror on innocent Kenyans, as a result of which lives have been lost, scores of law enforcement officers and civilians have been grievously injured and unimaginable loss to the Country's economy have been occasioned," Kindiki claimed.
As a result, the CS vowed to punish all those who took part, directly or indirectly, in the well-orchestrated violation of public safety and security of the nation.
"The Government has tonight mobilized all the law enforcement agencies of the State and the institutions of our country's criminal justice system to conclude investigations urgently and proceed to the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the planning and execution of the crimes committed today, including those who funded or otherwise aided or abetted the offenders," he added.
While addressing the media on Wednesday, July 12, in Nairobi, Raila blamed police officers for the violence inflicted on his supporters which led to injuries and deaths during the protests.
"We have witnessed savage attacks on our supporters by police officers who discriminately shot, injured and killed a number of people across the country, including here in Nairobi," Raila stated.
He also claimed that scores of protesters were arrested for exercising their right to protest as enshrined by the Constitution.
The former Prime Minister stated that the nationwide protests would continue until President William Ruto repeals sections of the Finance Act 2023.
"We must not allow it to happen to our country again. We have always said that these meetings remain peaceful until the police decide to break them up with bullets and teargas," Raila claimed, further alleging that Kenya was manifesting into a police state whereby police main as well as kill people at will.
