Raila Odinga Cancels Planned Kamukunji Rally
Addressing the media at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Raila revealed that he had received reports of a planned attack by goons during the event.
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Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga has cancelled his highly-anticipated Kamukunji rally set for Wednesday, July 12.
Addressing the media at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Raila revealed that he had received reports of a planned attack by goons during the event.
"Late last night, we received intelligence of a plan by Kenya Kwanza to ferry armed goons who would attack our rally in Kamukunji.
"These goons had express orders to shoot directly at the crowd while enjoying police protection," Raila stated.
Raila further claimed that goons were sponsored to vandalise property to pin blame squarely on the opposition, even though the nationwide protests would continue until President William Ruto repeals sections of the Finance Act 2023.
The former Prime Minister nonetheless praised his supporters for taking a stand against the government and showing up en masse countrywide.
"Kenyans understand that suffering will be the new normal if Ruto gets away with the Finance Act 2023 and other decisions he is currently pursuing. We won't move on until Ruto comes out and repeals the Finance Act 2023, commits to respect and stops interfering with other parties and adopts measures that would lower the cost of living," he added.
He also blamed police officers for the violence inflicted on his supporters which led to injuries and deaths during the protests.
"We have witnessed savage attacks on our supporters by police officers who discriminately shot, injured and killed a number of people across the country, including here in Nairobi," Raila stated.
He also claimed that scores of protesters were arrested for exercising their right to protest as enshrined by the Constitution.
"We must not allow it to happen to our country again. We have always said that these meetings remain peaceful until the police decide to break them up with bullets and teargas," Raila claimed, further alleging that Kenya was manifesting into a police state whereby police main as well as kill people at will.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader shouldered the burden on ordinary citizens in terms of deciding how their country would look like as he accused Kenya Kwanza of abandoning them when he needed them the most.
"The message is out loudly and clearly that Kenyans are tired. Kenyans are tired. People are tired of new promises on top of old promises. People are tired of being ignored.
"People are tired of being told what to do and when to do it. People are tired of going to bed hungry, facing the new day hungry and returning to bed hungry. People are tired of walking from one corner of this city to another, one town to another, one office to another, trying to find, a job and finding no job," Raila stated.
Raila concluded by urging his supporters to continue with the fight and exercise civil disobedience in protest against the current regime, adding that Azimio would announce their next step.
"As Kenyans, we have a duty to liberate ourselves as we have always done. It will not be easy but it has to be done. With unity and commitment, we will force Ruto to give a good deal. We will shortly communicate the next course of action. With unity, we shall overcome," Raila noted.
