Azimio Leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday, July 4, emphasised his coalition’s resolve to continue with civil disobedience and gave the way forward for upcoming protests.
Speaking to the press at Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (SKM) Center, the former Prime Minister announced that the Sabasaba rally, planned for Friday, July 7, would go on albeit with three key changes.
First, Raila announced that instead of the demonstrations being held only in Nairobi as earlier announced, the protests will be held in select towns across the country simultaneously.
“Our Kamukunji meeting is on in Nairobi this Friday, as we had announced. But it is not just a Kamukunji in Nairobi, but a Kamukunji across the country where this third liberation will be launched,” he stated. The former Minister however failed to reveal individual towns
Secondly, Raila explained that the Friday rallies will mark the start of a signature collection exercise aimed at rejecting the Kenya Kwanza regime led by President William Ruto.
On Tuesday, June 27, Azimio Principal Eugene Wamalwa indicated that signature collection would signal the start of the push to remove Ruto from power.
Raila, while confirming the official date to commence signature collection, noted it would be a protest against the government, its policies and punitive taxes.
Lastly, the former Prime Minister explained that the rallies would be used to demonstrate against matatu fare hikes expected to be implemented starting Wednesday, July 5.
“Let us proceed with bold determination that we are going to stick together. We are going to work together. Let us stay with this fight until the end,” he pleaded with Kenyans.
The opposition leader was flanked by Azimio la Umoja co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua.
He noted that the changes were necessitated after being taken for granted by the ruling regime, hence the need to take drastic actions.
“Ruto is imposing taxes on us without our consent and making laws whose net effect is to make life increasingly difficult,” Raila added.
The former prime minister therefore urged protestors to conduct peaceful picketing during the Sabasaba rally.
