Police Cancel Azimio Meeting in Murang'a Over Deployment

A photo collage of Azimio Principals Raila Odinga, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Murang’a County Police Commander David Mathiu (right).
A photo collage of Azimio Principals Raila Odinga, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Murang’a County Police Commander David Mathiu (right).
Photos/NPS/Raila Odinga

Murang’a County Police Commander David Mathiu announced on Wednesday, April 19, that they have cancelled the Azimio meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria had submitted a notice for the meeting to the law enforcement officers on Tuesday, April 18.

Speaking to the press after presenting the notice, Wa Iria revealed that Azimio leadership including Raila Odinga were to attend the meeting. 

“Raila Odinga will be here. The Azimio leadership will be here and we are inviting everybody.

Usawa Kwa Wote party leader Mwangi wa Iria addresses a gathering during an Azimio coalition political rally in Nairobi on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Usawa Kwa Wote party leader Mwangi wa Iria addresses a gathering during an Azimio coalition political rally in Nairobi on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Photo/Raila Odinga

“We want to hear what people are saying,” commented the Usawa Party 2022 presidential election aspirant. 

According to Mathiu, the event was called off because the concerned party failed to meet the four-day legal requirement for submitting notices.

Mathiu added that security would not be guaranteed since police officers have already been deployed elsewhere.

This is a blow to the opposition, ahead of planned resumption of countrywide demonstrations at the end of Ramadan to pressure the President William Ruto-led administration to meet their demands. 

Azimio raised concerns over bi-partisan talks due to a lack of goodwill from the Kenya Kwanza side, which they accused of dishonesty. 

Raila's wing, among other issues, faulted Kenya Kwanza for including Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan in its bipartisan negotiation team.

Odinga had argued on Sunday, April 16, that Keynan was elected under the Azimio coalition and that he could not represent Ruto's team. 

On Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula transmitted the seven names from the Kenya Kwanza side to the house ahead of the tabling of a motion. 

Minority leader in the National Assembly welcomed the bipartisan talks, noting that Odinga's side was ready. 

"We are ready and willing to engage in these talks as long  as they are as inclusive as possible and are not confined to parliament,"  Wandayi stated. 

Odinga vowed not to relent with mass protests until Ruto meets his demands, including lowering the price of unga to Ksh100 per two-kilogram packet and granting access to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) servers for a forensic audit.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan addresses a gathering during the launch of a bursary disbursement exercise at Elnur Secondary School on March 11, 2023.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan addresses a gathering during the launch of a bursary disbursement exercise at Elnur Secondary School on March 11, 2023.
Photo/Adan Keynan