Raila's Last Warning To Ruto Ahead Of Mass Protests
Raila warned the Head of State that time is running out for him to address the grievances raised by the coalition...
Marvin Chege 
Azimio la Umoja coalition leader, Raila Odinga, has warned President William Ruto that he has until Wednesday midnight, March 8 to respond to the coalition's demands.
While speaking at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, March 7, Raila warned the Head of State that time is running out for him to address the grievances raised by the coalition.
On February 22, Raila gave the Kenya Kwanza government 14 days for the food subsidies to be restored to protect Kenyans from the high cost of living, for the taxes imposed on Kenyans to come down, for the process of reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to stop and for the opening of servers.
“The deadline is today at midnight, so expect to hear from us on Thursday morning, March 9,” warned the Azimio leader.
He affirmed that his call for mass action remains in the event his demands are unmet.
Raila Odinga further dismissed the selection panel constituted to select new IEBC commissioners.
“That is a sham, I have nothing to talk about it,” he told the press.
He also played cagey with the press, declining to be pressed into giving a concrete answer on whether he would confront Ruto.
While announcing the ultimatum, the former Prime Minister further compelled the government to subsidise fees to fulfil a 100 per cent transition in a bid to tackle the rising cases of learners dropping out of school.
Raila further called for the end to electoral deceit, specifically for the services to be opened and audited under the auspices of a reputable firm or organisation, failure to which "we shall lead people to restore their authority and voice.”
"If these demands are not heeded within 14 days, we shall lead Kenyans to massive mass action across the country to take their power back and restore sanity," Raila threatened.
Raila further referenced the book of Amos 5:11 and referred to Prophet Amos' warning which stated:
"You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them," quoted Raila.
Among the actions he revealed he would take, while attending the burial of Luo Council of Elders Chairman Opiyo Otondi on March 4, would be to lead a mass rally marching to State House in Nairobi to put pressure on Ruto.
On Tuesday, Jubilee Party Secretary-General, Jeremiah Kioni confirmed that his party was ready for the mass protests despite a rocky start to 2023 among member parties of the Azimio coalition.
"I can assure you that we are on course. When the call for us to join others is made by Raila in the course of the period that he will we will be there. Today as we sit here we are dealing with people who have formed a company, the William-Riggy G company that has taken everything and is threatening the media," he stated.
Over the weekend, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chairmen from 35 counties also confirmed that they will mobilise supporters for the mass action protests.
The Head of State however brushed off Raila's demands and affirmed that he would not be coerced into giving in to opposition demands.
