Azimio la Umoja leaders on Tuesday, May 2, failed to turn up for anti-government protests that began from Kawangware through Kangemi-Waruku all the way to Kiambu County.
The coalition leaders were instead held up in a meeting at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Upper Hill, Nairobi, where they discussed a number of issues pertaining to the bipartisan talks.
At the complex, Raila together with other Azimio la Umoja leaders, held a Press Conference where they condemned what the coalition termed as unwarranted attacks on civilians by police officers.
"We laud the patriots who woke up early to defend their ideals despite unsupervised police brutality," a statement read in parts.
Raila's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party, earlier, claimed a successful procession, noting that the police accorded them respect during the demonstration.
"We have had a peaceful procession from Kawangware-Kangemi-Waruku-Westlands-Parklands-Muthaiga-Kiambu Rd with a full escort of the police in 15 land cruisers.
"Nobody was robbed. No mama mboga was harassed. Everyone was cheering on and saying how tired they are with the regime," Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party wrote on Twitter.
Later on, Raila responded to the demonstrations and urged the police to respect the rights of the protesters after claiming that some of his staff were subjected to the brutal force of the police.
"The police destroyed our media team's equipment as they lobbed teargas at a petrol station," Raila lamented in a statement released on Tuesday, May 2.
A contingent of anti-riot police officers blocked access to the Nairobi CBD at Fig Tree Hotel, Ngara and Landhies Road.
Raila had promised to lead protesters as early as 6 am, but the anti-government demonstrations seemed to have ended in a huff.
"Nobody shall be allowed to carry any weapon. Nobody should try to interfere with anybody's private business," Raila stated.
Earlier in the day, a section of Azimio MPs was teargassed while presenting a petition to the Office of the President along Harambee Avenue, Nairobi.
ODM Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna claimed that President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua were against a peaceful engagement over national issues.
"Gachagua told us we know where to find them. We do. We went there and instead met Police. Cowards!" Sifuna claimed.
