LIVE BLOG: Azimio Protests Enter 'Grand Finale' Day 3

Raila revealed that he had not been turning up for the protests as he came down with a case of a bad flu but assured supporters that he was recovering well.

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Jul 21, 2023 - 10:04 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:03
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LIVE BLOG: Azimio Protests Enter 'Grand Finale' Day 3
Anti-riot police officers patroling around Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's Karen home on Friday, July 21, 2023. /PALOMA GATABAKI

Day 2: Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga asked his supporters to turn up for the third and final day of anti-government protests and in large numbers.

The opposition has marked Jevanjee Gardens (CBD) Imara Daima Grounds (Embakasi South) and Kibra Kamukunji Grounds (Kibra Constituency) as new gathering points for their supporters.

Raila revealed that he had not been turning up for the protests as he came down with a case of a bad flu but assured supporters that he was recovering well.

He noted that the demos were organised to benefit Kenyans, adding that the Azimio co-principals did not need to be present for them.

Keep refreshing this page as Viral Tea provides you with the latest updates, reactions and analysis during the Azimio nationwide protests

6.07 pm: Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki takes a walk through Nairobi's Central Business District to assess the security situation after three-day-long anti-government protests. 

"The Country is safe. Met and interacted with citizens and business people going about their daily activities in Nairobi City. 

"The national security agencies remain vigilant and will execute their duties with diligence, professionalism, and dedication to ensure all Kenyans and visitors are safe," Kindiki stated.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki takes a walk through Nairobi's Central Business District on Friday, July 21, 2023. /KITHURE KINDIKI

Kindiki was accompanied by senior police officers as he walked through the streets of the CBD, which had previously been the scene of violent clashes between protesters and police. 

The CS spoke to traders and residents and expressed satisfaction with the security situation. Kindiki also warned criminals that they would be dealt with severely. 

4.55 pm: Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi allegedly arrested by armed men suspected to be police officers driving three vehicles with concealed number plates.

Confirming the incident, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communication Philip Etale claimed that Osotsi was arrested that at Sosa Resort in Gisambai, Vihiga County. 

"They bundled him in one of the vehicles and made away with him," Etale tweeted

2.48 pm: Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, denies meeting foreign envoys at Wiper Party Kalonzo Musyoka's Karen home in Nairobi, as per media reports, reiterating that he is still battling a strong strain of flu, hence keeping off public engagements and all meetings.

"Dear Kenyans, I am currently under the weather, battling a strong strain of flu, hence keeping off public engagements and all meetings. I have therefore held no meeting with any envoys as reported by some media outlets.

"Representatives of our coalition Hon Opiyo Wandayi and Hon Jeremiah Kioni have today visited Hon Kalonzo Musyoka following his ongoing house arrest and detention," read his statement on social media.

Raila's assertions were confirmed by Kalonzo's Spokesperson Paloma Gatabaki who claimed that the Wiper Party Leader was blocked by state agents. 

"Yes, it is true that His Excellency Kalozo Musyoka has been under house arrest since Tuesday evening. The Subarus and land rovers have been stationed outside his Karen residence preventing him from leaving," Paloma stated. 

2.32 pm: Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) reveal that between July 7 to July 19, 27 extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions (EJE)- fatal police shootings have been reported.

2.30 pm: Suspects in Azimio protests taken to court released on cash bail of Ksh5,000 each

2.08 pm: High Court orders Police IG Japhet Koome to produce Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogettah in any court in the country in an order issued by Judge sitting at Milimani Law Couts following a petition filed by Ogettah’s lawyer, Danstan Omari. 

In the petition, Omari and his colleagues argued that Ogetah had been illegally detained by the police since Wednesday, July 19. He also alleged that Ogetah was being held incommunicado and denied access to his lawyers and family.

The court directed Koome to produce Ogettah in court immediately. The court also ordered the police to provide Ogetah with access to his lawyers and family.

2.07 pm: More than 60 protesters appear before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi after taking part in Azimio demonstrations.

2:00 pm: Four schools in Busia County have been closed indefinitely after anti-riot police officers battling protesters lobbed tear gas canisters into their compounds. Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Western Branch Executive Secretary Moffat Okisai noted that a number of students developed breathing problems and were immediately taken to nearby hospitals.

Okisai affirmed that the schools will only resume normal academic programmes once Headteachers shall have ascertained the safety of students. 

1.18 pm: Media reports indicate that Kalonzo Musyoka met a number of diplomats at his home in Karen, Nairobi. The diplomats were from the United Nations, European Union, the United States, and Denmark, with several diplomatic-plated vehicles seen living Musyoka's Karen home at around midday.

Reports further indicated that former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, is also at the meeting.

Kalonzo was yet to address the media about the meeting, which comes days after diplomats from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and nine other countries offered to provide support in mediation talks between President William Ruto and Raila over the planned nationwide demonstrations.

1.02 pm: Maina Njenga's family demands his release, claiming that he was arrested while visiting his ailing father. Njenga was allegedly arrested alongside his brother.

"We demand the release of Maina Njenga within 2 hours or tell us where he is," his family told the media.

1:00 pm: Azimio La Umoja claims that Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka was blocked from leaving his house. 

12.46 pm: Babu Owino claims that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) plan on arresting him again just moments after he was released on a Ksh100,000 bail and an alternative of a Ksh200,000 bond.

"We are just done with our court process and I've been released on cash bail and as we speak, CID from DCI headquarters and Nairobi area are all here waiting to rearrest me if I leave the police cells.

"So anytime from now, they are planning to arrest me but we shall continue fighting. Bungei we know your plans just proceed with them," Babu stated in a video seen by Viral Tea.

12:20 pm: Anti-riot police officers engage protesters in a running battle in Kibera. Some protesters trooped to the streets and blocked roads leading out of Nairobi's CBD. 

12:00 pm: Journalists roughed up by police in Milimani Law Courts after MP Babu Owino's hearing. The journalists were trying to film the post-proceeding events when the police prevented them from recording interviews. 

The police reportedly told the journalists that they were not allowed to continue staying within the precincts of the court since the proceedings had been concluded. The journalists argued that they had a right to film the proceedings, but the police refused to listen.

A group of police officers then started to push and shove the journalists, and some of the journalists were thrown to the ground. The journalists were eventually forced to leave the courtroom.

11:50 am: Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino's Lawyers confirm that they are processing his bail in order for him to be released from police custody. 

Magistrate Lucas Onyina ordered the police to release Babu on Ksh100,000 cash bail after holding him for more than two days. 

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