The opposition is now blaming the government for allegedly recruiting and deploying goons to cause mayhem during the anti-government protests in order to shift blame to the Azimio One Kenya Coalition picketers terming the move as draconian and tantamount to suspension of the constitution.
They also criticised the withdrawal of the security detail of opposition leader Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and the use of police to curtail their constitutional right to picket.
Addressing the media yesterday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi yesterday, Azimio leaders led by Raila Odinga, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka among others accused president William Ruto of turning the country into an authoritarian state through the use of plain-clothes police officers and hiring goons to disrupt protests.
They spoke after a day-long rounds of largely thwarted demonstrations in both Nairobi and Kisumu.
They distanced themselves and their supporters from the violence witnessed along Ngong Road in Nairobi where a public service mini bus was burnt to ashes and pockets of violence in Nairobi’s Eastleigh.
Instead, they squarely shifted the blame to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria for allegedly hiring the same gang that invaded Northlands Farm and Spectre International, establishments associated to retired president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila respectively.
Addressing the press at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, Narc-Kenya Party leader Martha Karua termed the withdrawal of police as illegal suspension of the Constitution, intimidation and blackmail.
“There is a slow but steady attempt to introduce martial law in Kenya. We know who President Ruto is learning from, but as a country we will not allow it and will resist it. We have come too far to go back.” Karua said.
She raised concerns over “a worrying trend of hired goons against Azimio supporters”.
“You would have thought that the Kenya Kwanza regime would have let Kenyans express their opinion and fight for the country they love so much, but that was never to be. Instead, at the crack of dawn, police got stationed in all parts of Nairobi metropolis and the city centre to prevent us from proceeding with our peaceful protests as we had planned.” Karua added.
She blamed the scenes of violence witnessed yesterday on hooligans allegedly hired by the government to cause mayhem and blame it on the opposition.
Earlier in the day, a public commuter bus ferrying passengers into the CBD from Dagoretti was set ablaze by rowdy youth after they robbed the passengers of valuables.
“They were acting under the command of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria. Unfortunately, because of the mayhem, we were not able to present our petitions to the four offices as planned,” said Karua.
The Azimio leaders were to march to the Office of the President to present a petition on the high cost of living.
“We were also to make our way to the Treasury where we were to petition the release of funds to counties and timely payment of salaries to civil servants. The fourth office was the Public Service Commission where we sought to demand that appointments to public offices be done purely on merit and inclusivity, and not based on tribe as is currently the case,” she said.
“We are taking a break to recharge, re-strategize and re-energise. We shall resume our protests on Thursday,” Karua added.
