Sakaja Bans Kisumu Protesters From Nairobi, Responds To Nyong'o

Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja on Wednesday, March 29 responded to his Kisumu counterpart Anyang' Nyong'o's move to suspend Azimio la Umoja demonstrations in the lakeside city and instead join the demos in the capital city.

In a statement, Sakaja slammed Nyong'o over his idea of exporting his protests to Nairobi and turning the county into the epicentre of the nationwide demonstrations and associated mayhem, which he termed "preposterous and totally unacceptable".

He told off his Kisumu counterpart, urging him to have the protesters remain in his county.

"Nairobians have patiently put up with the disruption, and their taxes have paid for its aftermath. In the spirit of devolution, I would advise the Governor of Kisumu, Prof Anyang' Nyong'o', to keep his demonstrations to his County," he stated.

However, he pulled a near-similar move to Nyong'o and suspended subsequent protests in the capital city.

"It has been decided that further protests and demonstrations shall similarly no longer take place in any part of the city," he added.

The statement by Sakaja came hours after Governor Nyong'o suspended all protests held on Monday and Thursday in the county indefinitely and with immediate effect.

He stated on Wednesday, March 29 that the decision to halt the Azimio la Umoja protests in the Lakeside city followed detailed consultations with the Azimio National leadership and the County Executive Committee (the cabinet)

"I wish to make the following announcements: That all public demonstrations within Kisumu County have from today been suspended indefinitely so that we can join the demonstrations in Nairobi.

"That the people of Kisumu remain committed to the aspirations of Azimio La Umoja and its campaign for a better Kenya. I would like to appeal to the people of Kisumu to work in tandem with law enforcement officers to maintain peace and security in our county," he stated in part.

He further noted that the people of Kisumu have spoken loudly and clearly on various issues affecting them and have delivered their petitions to the government.

Following the anti-government protests in Kisumu, Nyong'o expressed their resolve to stand with the Azimio La Umoja leader, Raila Amollo Odinga in his quest for Justice.

"In the past two weeks, residents of Kisumu County have been joining other Kenyans in peaceful demonstrations against the Kenya Kwanza government over the high cost of living and electoral fraud.

"We have been demanding for the opening of the 2022 Presidential election servers to determine who actually won the seat. Our people have been protesting the high cost of living, characterized by a sharp rise in the cost of food and other basic commodities," he added.

According to Nyong'o, the residents of Kisumu have also been protesting undemocratic plans by the Kenya Kwanza government to handpick a partisan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to manage the 2027 General election contrary to what is provided for in the Constitution.

The protests in Kisumu were characterized by running battles between police and protesters, with the former accused of shooting dead a man in the leg and the chest—the bullets exiting from the back, during the demos on Monday, March 27.

Kisumu Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o. /FILE