Azimio coalition on Sunday, February 12, announced that it had postponed its rally that was to be held in Kisii on Monday, February 13.
The postponement came hours after a section of political leaders from Kisii warned former Prime Minister Raila Odinga against holding demonstrations in the region.
While postponing the rally, the Azimio leadership did not acknowledge if the decision was occasioned by the resistance from leaders from the Kisii region.
Kisii County Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chairperson Kerosi Ondieki revealed that the decision was made after wide consultations.
Ondieki however urged leaders from the region to support ODM and Azimio's agenda.
“We want to give everyone a chance to attend Azimio rallies and share their opinion because this is an ODM stronghold,” he beseeched dissidents.
Ondieki tentatively set the date for a rally on Friday, February 17, should members from the region agree.
Former Kisii Governor James Ongwae on Sunday, February 12 stated that Azimio rallies would affect the region negatively and that there was no room for protests.
“President William Ruto has been visiting different regions in the country and initiating development projects.
"We do not want demonstrations that will cause uneasiness which will prevent the President from visiting our region and giving us our share of development projects,” he remarked.
His sentiments were echoed by his former deputy Joash Maangi through a separate statement.
“Azimio should give Ruto’s administration time to work before starting countrywide rallies,” he remarked.
Maangi further explained that the region had nothing against the President since he had appointed leaders from the region to high profile offices.
“Demonstrations will make us miss more appointments from the Kenya Kwanza government,” he added.
The opposition from Kisii and subsequent postponement of the rally will likely set a precedent for other regions in the country to oppose Raila’s nationwide rallies.
In Makueni, Governor Mutula Kilonzo in a past event signaled that his region would not hold demonstrations as they would be seeking development projects from the national government.
"I will not go to the demonstrations until we get good roads, airports and other projects which Nyanza region got from former President Uhuru Kenyatta's government," Mutula remarked on January 31.
In Mt Kenya, Raila will find it hard to hold a rally as majority of Jubilee members from the region have already declared their support to Kenya Kwanza government.
President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have been on a charm offensive to win regional kingpins to the government and cut Raila influence.
