Kenyans Are Funding Monday Protests- Raila

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, on Saturday, March 18 refuted claims that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta was funding the mass protests against the Kenya Kwanza government.

In a joint media interview, Raila revealed that the mass action planned for Monday, March 20 is being funded by Kenyans in general.

He further noted that his supporters are raising funds collectively to cover the cost of the protests and not the wealthy who possess billions of shillings.

Raila Odinga during an interview on March 18, 2023. /CITIZEN TV

"Kenyans themselves are funding these protests. There is no one who has that kind of money, we are contributing, and anything anyone has is given out voluntarily.

"We are not like the rich who have billions they can produce here and there, we are a movement of the people," he stated.

On Uhuru's role in the protests, Raila affirmed that the former Head of State was focused on his international roles including his capacity as the Facilitator of the East African Community and heading the African Union's Election Observation Mission to Nigeria.

He added that Uhuru had arrived in the country in the past week and hence has not been able to be involved in the planned mass action protests. 

"Nothing could be further from the truth, Uhuru has nothing to do with this. As you know, he has been out of the country most of the time.

"Lately, he was in Nigeria observing elections. After Nigeria, he went on a trip elsewhere. He has arrived in the country two days ago. So, he has never been part of us," Raila stated. 

While clarifying his alleged march to State House, Raila divulged that Azimio will send a delegation to deliver a message to President William Ruto at State House as protests continue in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

In addition, Raila noted that those protesters who will be unable to make it to Nairobi on March 20 will present a memorandum to their respective national government offices across the 47 counties.

"We shall send some people to give Ruto our message. State House is a public place (despite being protected), and if they allow our delegates to enter, so be it. If they don't, they will leave the message at the door," he stated. 

"State House is a public property, the coalition will select a delegation of people who will represent the coalition at State House," Odinga stated adding that he was not sure whether he would be part of the selected delegation. 

He however admitted that he was unsure of whether or not the Head of State would be at State House or his Harambee House office in Nairobi CBD.

Raila further assured that Azimio had secured a police permit to stage demonstrations in compliance with the law.

When asked what next after the March 20 protests, the former Prime Minister insisted that the protests would continue in the coalition's relentless push to have the demands presented to President Ruto's government met.