Raila Launches Website Initiative To Remove Ruto; How To Use It

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, on Tuesday, July 11 launched a signature collection initiative dubbed Tumechoka Citizens to force President William Ruto's administration out of power.

Speaking at Stephen Kalonzo Centre in Nairobi, Raila called upon all Kenyans to upend their signatures to show unity against Ruto as well as his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

"Having read and understood the intention of the promoters of this initiative, I hereby Support the Citizens’ initiative to remove from office Mr William Ruto as President and Mr Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya," the website tumechoka.com reads.

The former Prime Minister added that Ruto had ignored the plight of Kenyans as well as assumed the grievances raised over the Finance Act 2023.

Raila Odinga during the launch of the collection of signatures on July 7, 2023, during the Saba Saba demonstrations. /RAILA ODINGA

How To Use It

Interested Kenyans can log in to the website tumechoka.com which takes them to a portal where they key in their details such as their national ID number, both their first and last names as well as attach an image of their ID.

They should also include their phone number, county name as well as constituency name as well as their ward name before upending their digital signature.

Raila further indicated that the signature collection initiative will be launched across 47 counties and urged Kenyans to come out in large numbers and sign the petition.

"The signature will show that Raila is not speaking for himself, but for millions of people who are walking together with him," Raila stated. 

Among the main criteria for Raila's anti-government protests include the high cost of living which he alleged was due to Ruto imposing punitive tax measures meant to collect as much revenue as possible at the expense of the well-being of the people.

"We are tired of the high cost of living, the high taxes, and the corruption that is rampant in this government.

"We are tired of being lied to and taken for granted. We are tired of being ruled by a government that does not care about the people," Raila alleged.

The signature collection initiative is seen as Raila's latest in a series of protests and demonstrations that have been organised by the opposition in recent months against the government's handling of the economy as well as the rising cost of living, and the recent increase in taxes.

Azimio Principal Martha Karua on Monday, July 10 however argued that the collection of 10 million signatures was a tally of Kenyan citizens who supported Azimio's protests against the government and not aimed at removing President Ruto from power, a move critics argued was a tall order.

Impeaching President Ruto

Raila should however know that removing a Kenyan President from office either through impeachment, death or loss of election is a tall order, with impeachment a feat never attempted before in Kenya's history.

Impeachment is a serious process that can only be initiated if there is a serious allegation against the president. 

In Kenya, there are two grounds on which a president can be impeached:

• Gross violation of a provision of the Constitution or of any other law. This could include things like abuse of power, corruption, or treason.
• Serious reasons for believing that the President has committed a crime under national or international law. This could include things like genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.

The process of impeachment begins with a motion being moved in the National Assembly. The motion must be supported by at least a third of all MPs. 

If the motion is passed, it is then sent to the Senate for a trial, where the president is given the opportunity to defend themselves and to present evidence.

The Senate then votes on whether to uphold the charges against the president. If at least two-thirds of all senators vote to uphold the charges, the president is removed from office.