Raila Announces Return Of Mass Protests In 2024
Raila accused the government of worsening the cost of living across the country through punitive taxes.
Marvin Chege 
Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga has announced the return of nationwide protests famously known as maandamano in 2024.
Speaking in Nyanza on Saturday, December 30, Raila accused the government of worsening the cost of living across the country through punitive taxes.
He demanded the Kenya Kwanza government revoke the punitive taxes as well as the Finance Act or else maandamano would make a comeback in the new year.
File image of chaos at Serena Hotel during the anti-government protests on March 20, 2023. /CITIZEN TV
"In this government, you thought that the 'hustlers' would hear you. We found out that they were just words. Kenyans felt bad about the situation in 2023," he stated.
"We told them not to increase taxes but they went ahead and raised the taxes, worsening the situation. These taxes must be revoked, the Finance Act must be removed. If they don't we will return to the streets in 2024."
Raila used his speech to mobilise youth and women from Siaya County to join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, as part of his recruitment drive to attract thousands of supporters ahead of its grassroots elections in 2024.
Azimio supporters had been pressuring Raila to call for the return of nationwide protests to force the government to recall some of its policies, with Azimio listing the lowering of the cost of living through revoking punitive taxes as part of its irreducible minimums to the government.
On Thursday, November 16, Raila denounced the possibility of calling for fresh anti-government demonstrations, hours after NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua hinted at her party's willingness to return to the streets in protest.
Raila stated that he would not call for protests until the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) comprising members from Azimio and the Kenya Kwanza coalition concluded the bipartisan talks aimed at ending the political standoff between the opposition and the government.
The committee led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Wiper party's Kalonzo Musyoka had presented the report to President William Ruto who agreed with the recommendations whereas Raila indicated that he agreed with the findings, though he expressed some dissent with the recommendations.
The recommendations will be subject to deliberation in Parliament before they are adopted.
