Raila Angrily Lectures Ruto, Vows Change In Style Of Protests [VIDEO]

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga on Friday, August 11 angrily lectured President William Ruto over the loss of lives during the anti-government protests while hinting at a change in protest style to avoid witnessing further casualties.

While addressing mourners in Bondo, Siaya during the Interdenominational mass, the former Prime Minister alleged that the Kenya Kwanza government had planned the mass killing of Azimio supporters and mainly members of the Luo community.

Raila heaped blame on the government and its top leaders for allegedly masterminding the murder of tens of Azimio supporters during street protests in the guise of protecting property as the street protests were held.

He was irked to learn that President Ruto had commended the police for doing what he termed as a good job to protect the property and lives of Kenyans yet there were scores of people who lost their lives during the protests.

''You have talked about protecting properties, which property was destroyed in Bondo? This is basically planned wanton killing of our people," Raila said.

Raila went on to claim, without evidence, that the government was allegedly profiling the Luo community and planning to wipe out the community to cement Ruto's rule, likening the deaths to the Adolf Hitler regime where scores of Jews were targeted before eventually attacked, and killed.

"That is the reason why you have profiled the people, it is not only about  Luos but also about the people who voted overwhelmingly for Azimio.

''I have lived long in Germany when Hitler targeted the Jews, he came up with the final solution and started to attack and kill the Jews the problem started this way," he lamented.

The Azimio chief warned the government against replicating the Hitler tactics on Kenyan soil to profile a community even as he challenged the international community to ''come out strongly" against the alleged atrocities.

"We want the international community to take note of this, this is unacceptable. We want the diplomatic community in Nairobi not to keep quiet but stand with Kenyans," he said.

Raila On Karim Khan's Visit to Kenya

Breaking his silence regarding the visit to Kenya by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan, Raila claimed, without evidence, that Khan was accorded State House treatment by President Ruto before he went to Mount Kenya University (MKU) on Friday, August 4 to receive his an honorary degree.

According to Raila, Khan made a mistake by visiting Kenya, adding that the decision was against the ICC's mandate to defend the rights of the people, despite Khan's office communicating that he was in Kenya in a private capacity.

“The prosecutor for ICC was here treated by Mr Ruto at State House, given a chopper to go and receive an honorary degree for fighting for human rights, he was received by another agent of Mr Ruto. We have said this is not right ICC should remain true to its mandate by protecting and defending the rights of innocent people all over the world,” said Raila.

Khan on Monday, August 7 recused himself from all Kenyan cases a day after his recent visit to Kenya elicited mixed reactions with Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition co-principal Martha Karua questioning the timing of the visit.

Change In Protests Style

Regarding the anti-government protests, the Azimio leader hinted at a change in the style of protests that would not involve the coalition's supporters taking to the streets as has been the case in previous demonstrations, alluding to the change in protest angle to the 'many ways of killing a cat'.

In expressing displeasure at President Ruto's administration, Raila in his call for Kenya to be liberated appealed to supporters to protest by staying at home instead of going to work every weekday, or during weekends when necessary.

"Ultimately, it will be our responsibility to liberate our country. Kenya can and must be liberated. We must tell them also that we will not be cowed by this act.

"We don't even have to bring people into the streets, we can tell people to stay at home as another way of expressing displeasure and dissatisfaction. In fact, next time we will not tell people to come to the streets, we will them to stay in their homes and not to come outside,” decried Raila.

The former Prime Minister further went to the extent of imploring his supporters to prevent Kenyans from leaving their houses.

"We'll tell you don't come out, stop anybody who's trying to come out and stay at home. My people, there are many ways of killing a cat when it becomes wild and starts killing your chicken. This cat we'll kill," he added. 

Raila called off the street protests to give the negotiation talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza a chance but threatened to resume protests in 30 days if the talks bear no fruit.

Here is the video: