UDA To Stage Nairobi Demos, To Storm Raila, Karua, Kalonzo Homes

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has announced that it will stage demonstrations in Nairobi on Monday, March 20 to counter Azimio la Umoja's mass action.

In a letter dated March 17, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala notified the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome of the intention of peaceful picketing in the capital city.

Malala further noted that he would mobilise a team of youth to the residences of Azimio's top leadership, requesting the police to provide security.

"We appreciate the role and mandate of The National Police Service, in maintaining law and order, preserving peace, and protecting life and property.

"It is in this regard, we write to request security personnel in view of hustlers that will be demonstrating against divisive politics, destruction of property, and probable loss of lives. This is in light of Azimio's Countrywide demonstrations scheduled for Monday 20th, 2023," stated Malala in part.

The former Kakamega Senator added that the party is expecting at least 20,000 people in Monday's picketing on Karen, Kitisuru, and Lower Kabete roads leading to the following homesteads;

1. Raila Odinga
2. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka
3. Martha Karua
4. Eugene Wamalwa

"Your consideration of our request will be highly appreciated. Kindly expedite," he added.

On March 18, during the UDA delegates meeting at Machakos University, Malala declared that he would lead his supporters to a demonstration targeting Raila's Karen home.

He expressed that he would not sit back and watch as the former Prime Minister leads his supporters to a mass procession towards State House in Nairobi, further claiming that Raila's mass action would lead to business losses, and economic sabotage, and ought to be halted.

He thus urged all party members who supported President William Ruto to join the protest and also requested Ida Odinga, Raila's wife, to prepare enough food for the protesters.

Viral Tea could not however independently verify if the letter by UDA was received by the Koome or the county police leadership.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei had earlier confirmed receiving only two notices of planned public demonstrations; one from Azimio and the other from the Nairobi Business Community. He however invalidated both of the requests, explaining that none of them had adhered to the procedures provided in the Public Order Act.

Raila however dismissed Bungei's claims, stating that their notice, signed by the Chairman of the Azimio Executive Council Wycliffe Oparanya, had been issued on Friday, March 17, and not on Saturday, March 18, as revealed by Bungei.

The law requires Bungei or Koome to alert Raila and Azimio in writing that the procession would not be permitted. Azimio has not yet confirmed the receipt of a letter from the police.

The question of whether the stopping of a procession is answered in Section 8 (b) of Part Three of the Public Order Act.

"The regulating officer or any police officer of or above the rank of inspector may stop or prevent the holding of any public gathering or other meeting or procession which, having regard to the rights and interests of the persons participating in such gathering, meeting or procession, there is clear, present or imminent danger of a breach of the peace or public order," the law reads in part.

The notice of picketing from Azimio was rejected alongside a similar notice from the Nairobi Business Community for being late. If neither of those groups received their response in writing, Kenyans might be forced to be on the lookout for both groups.

In addition, Odinga announced that the starting point for the mass action will be at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).