Raila Changes Venue Of Parallel Jamhuri Day Event

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has changed the venue of a public consultations forum on Monday, December 12 from the Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi to Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, Nairobi.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, December 5, Raila stated that the Azimio la Umoja coalition will mark the Jamhuri Day celebrations with “Kenyan patriots”, at the same time President William Ruto will be leading the country in marking the national celebrations in a separate State function.

He added that the forum will be a peaceful one and promised no protests.

Azimio party leader Raila Odinga addressing supporters during a rally in Utawala, Nairobi on November 4, 2022. /RAILA ODINGA

“On the 12th of December, we are going to Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, not Kamukunji. We will be celebrating Jamhuri Day with Kenyan patriots and it is also going to be a very peaceful congregation.

"No protests, no picketing, although that is also guaranteed by the constitution of Kenya,” said Odinga.

Speaking in regards to the public forum to be held on Wednesday, December 7, Odinga promised that the engagements will not be demonstrations as interpreted by a section of Kenyans and that the Azimio coalition will be “consulting with the people of Kenya.” 

“If we wanted to do a demonstration or protest, we would just inform the police to provide security and do it, but we are not demonstrating or engaging in any act of thuggery and hooliganism and no property is going to be destroyed,” he said.

“The government should not use this as an excuse to bring thugs there to try to disrupt this function.”

The Azimio leader was flanked by NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, among others.

Odinga's rallies stemmed from an ongoing probe into the four breakaway Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners; Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi.

The four were accused of gross violation of the Constitution and a breach of their oath of office, which makes their status illegal to hold office. They were prominent for denying the presidential election results on Monday, August 15 as announced by IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati.

Cherera and Nyang'aya have since resigned from the commission.

Former IEBC Vice-chair Juliana Cherera. /FILE