Tension is high ahead of tomorrow’s planned anti-government protests which opposition leader Raila Odinga seemed to escalate with four petitions scheduled to be president to the Office of the President, National Treasury and Public Service Commission (PSC) and at the electoral body headquarters.
The Azimio One Kenya Coalition leader yesterday said tomorrow’s plans remain on course hours after Nairobi police comamnder Adamson Bungei issued a firm warning saying his office has declined to authorise the demonstrations citing previous occurrences where such protests resulted to destruction of properties, lives and loss of businesses.
At the same time, president William Ruto, his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service and Trade, Industry and Investments Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria separately warned that the government will firmly deal with any form of lawlessness.
Raila sensationally claimed of alleged assassination plot pointing an accusing finger at the Deputy President Kuria claiming they have threatened opposition leaders.
However, no formal police report has been made so far in conection to the claims apart from the alleged assassination attempt claim in Kware, Embakasi targeting Raila’s vehicle.
A report was made at the nearby station in March this year.
“The warnings have included repeated threats of assassination of Azimio leaders from Rigathi Gachagua and Moses Kuria. The latest grim warning has come from Honourable William Ruto, who yesterday vowed to stop the planned demonstrations at all costs and declared them “nonsense.” Raila said.
The Azimio leader vowed to soldier on in spite of the said threats.
He defended the planned demos stressing that the constitution provides that every person has the right to peaceably and unarmed assembly and to demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities.
“Unless Ruto wants to suspend the constitution and rule by decree, we will exercise our right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, as earlier announced, dark threats notwithstanding.” Raila added.
Raila said he is ready for any eventuality should the government decide to turn the planned demos into a showdown.
“If the regime chooses to turn our peaceful and constitutional activities into a showdown and assassinations that Kuria and Gachagua are threatening, so be it, we are ready.” The statement by the Azimio boss read in part.
During the demo, the Azimio brigade will present petitions to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) showing that the election results were doctored and demand an audit of the servers.
Raila said that Azimio will also petition the IEBC against the sacking of four commissioners, stressing that the move presents a dangerous precedent in which in all future elections, all commissioners would be required to agree with the chairperson of IEBC, effectively making election a one person show.
The coalition also plans to present a petition to the Office of the President proving that the cost of food, fuel, electricity and fees remain unacceptably high.
“We will further petition OP to desist from invading and destroying rival political parties as was attempted on Jubilee headquarters and through auction of MPs in Parliament,” Raila said.
“We will be visiting the National Treasury on 2nd May, 2023 to petition for the immediate release of all funds owed to counties and the timely payment of salaries to all civil servants,” he added.
Azimio further plans to visit the Public Service Commission on the same day to demand that appointments to public offices be done purely on the basis of merit and inclusivity, not tribe as is presently the case.
“We cannot have a country of close to 50 tribes where appointments go only to members of one tribe,” the Azimio leader said.
Raila also claimed that cults enjoy the protection from State House.
“We shall not agree be cowed into silence when so many things are going wrong in the country; with cults that enjoy patronage and protection from State House killing Kenyans, including children, in their hundreds, goons hired by the state invading and destroying private property, massive corruption making a grand return to the country and tribalism taking an unprecedented sway in public offices,” the Azimio leader said.