Raila Changes Tune On Tuesday Protests, Goes After Treasury, Ruto's Office

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has maintained that the planned mass demonstrations for Tuesday, May 2 will continue despite a police ban issued earlier on the same.

In a statement on Sunday, April 30, Raila affirmed that the opposition is exercising their right to peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities according to Article 37 of the Constitution.

"Unless Mr Ruto wants to suspend the constitution and rule by decree, we will exercise our right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions on Tuesday, 2nd May 2023, as earlier announced, dark threats notwithstanding," Raila asserted.

Raila Odinga addressing supporters in Murang'a on April 20, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

Raila however stated that the coalition shall present petitions to four government offices on May 2 in a bid to pressure President William Ruto’s administration to heed their demands.

The former Prime Minister, who has refused to concede defeat to Ruto in the August 9 general elections, revealed that the coalition will present a petition to the IEBC showing that the election results were doctored and demand an audit of the servers.

"We shall also petition IEBC against the sacking of the four commissioners because it presents a dangerous precedent in which in all future elections, all commissioners will be required to agree with the chairperson of IEBC, effectively making the election a one-person show," he added.

He went on to announce that Azimio will equally present a petition to the Office of the President proving that the cost of food, fuel, electricity and fees remain unacceptably high.

"We will further petition OP to desist from invading and destroying rival political parties as was attempted on Jubilee headquarters and through the auction of MPs in Parliament," he continued.

The coalition further made public its plans to visit the National Treasury offices on May 2 to petition for the immediate release of all funds owed to counties and the timely payment of salaries to all civil servants.

"We plan to visit the Public Service Commission on the day to demand that appointments to public offices be done purely on the basis of merit and inclusivity, not tribe as is presently the case. We cannot have a country of close to 50 tribes where appointments go only to members of one tribe," he added.

Raila accused the Kenya Kwanza coalition of trying to suppress them with the several problems affecting the country, including what he alleged were cults that enjoyed protection from the government.

"We shall not agree to be cowed into silence when so many things are going wrong in the country; with cults that enjoy patronage and protection from State House killing Kenyans, including children, in their hundreds, goons hired by the state invading and destroying private property, massive corruption making a grand return to the country and tribalism taking an unprecedented sway in public offices," he went on.

Speaking at the Regional Police Headquarters, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei stated that despite Azimio's notice that they would take to the streets, they would not be allowed to protest owing to the previous demonstrations that were marred with violence and death.

Azimio la Umoja Executive Council chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya in a letter dated April 24 notified the Nairobi Central Police Station that it would stage its public procession in the Central Business District (CBD), listing four major streets.

They include Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Haile Selassie Avenue and Harambee Avenue. Azimio further confirmed their intention to submit a written petition to the government at Harambee House.

Police officers during a media briefing on April 30, 2023. /CITIZEN DIGITAL