Anxiety in Ruto administration over Raila’s 14 days’ protests ultimatum, push for travel sanctions against him

President William Ruto’s administration is pushing for travel sanctions against opposition leader Raila Odinga over his 14 days’ protests as he presses to have the current government kicked out of office as he terms the Kenya Kwanza administration ‘illegitimate’.

Kenya Kwanza lawmakers disclosed a list of accusations that they want the United States, the United Kingdom and western countries to take against Raila who in their own words, is out to destabilize the government.

The government wants Raila banned from travelling to friendly Western nations should he proceed with his plans for mass action intended to force President Ruto out of office.

Raila had on Wednesday announced that he will lead mass protests in 14 days if the demands of the Azimio One Kenya coalition in the strategy of choosing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) members and lowering the cost of living are not met by the government.

Yesterday during a political rally in Kakamega, Raila declared that the Ruto administration had 11 days remaining to agree to their demands.

A President Ruto ally said the plan is to use both diplomatic and constitutional means to deal with the opposition leader.

The lawmaker also proposed to have Raila denied privileges he enjoys both locally and internationally by virtue of his former office.

Defence and Foreign Relations Committee chairman Nelson Koech said Raila’s international recognition stands to suffer immensely if he proceeds with his threats against the ruling government.

“It is not unusual for governments across the world, in pursuit of their national interests and global order, to place sanctions on individuals and organisations with a high appetite for causing political and economic instability. The globalisation of markets and production means the international community has insurable interests in Kenya’s political and economic stability. Anybody who attempts to cause instability in the globalisation matrix will soon find himself isolated and swimming with sharks in dark cold waters,” he said.

However, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said there are no plans as of yet to have Raila banned from travelling to Western countries.

He said the government “has no time to engage the opposition leader in his unending political theatrics.

Azimio leaders however said the planned mass protests are within the Constitution.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said those thinking they can manage the opposition leader through such blackmail will be in for a rude shock.

“Raila Odinga is an institution. Anybody imagining that he can be cut down to size is living in a world of fantasy. They should watch out; they will definitely be surprised,” he said.