Azimio la Umoja legislators on Monday, July 17, maintained that their three-day planned demonstrations would still go on despite pressure from Kenya Kwanza and religious groups to call them off.
In a statement, the team led by National Assembly leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi affirmed that they would only drop their planned mass action if President William Ruto lowered the cost of living before the demonstrations.
Wandayi expressed concerns that Kenya Kwanza was focusing on countering the protests instead of addressing issues that had been raised by the Azimio team.
According to the Raila Odinga-led coalition, their Kenya Kwanza counterparts have been ordered to stage counter-protests in the areas Azimio is planning to hold the demos.
The opposition has called upon their supporters to maintain peace during the protests and not to engage the hired youth planning to disrupt their programmes.
"We take note that Kenya Kwanza MPs have resolved to cooperate with the police and ensure that there is no further loss of life and livelihoods. We know what this means," Wandayi alleged.
"It means confronting protesters with members of that killer squad called Operations Support Unit, whose brief is to maim and kill protesters, including Azimio leaders."
Raila's faction also alleged that governors were also roped in the plan including some from Azimio, promising to take action against those who will finance the counter-protests.
However, Azimio's claims have been dismissed by a number of Kenya Kwanza legislators who indicate that the State House meeting was aimed at strategising on how to protect the lives of Kenyans and their property.
“We cannot allow our country to sink in the protests of Maandamo because of selfish leaders, who told Raila Odinga that this country starts and stops with him? Why is it always about Raila Odinga?" Belgut MP Nelson Koech posed.
Regarding their ongoing plans to impeach Ruto, the team indicated that they were still continuing with signature collection despite the challenges they were facing.
"We have had 1000 attacks on our website. They have even cloned our website to confuse our supporters," Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna added.
"Don't harm your fellow Kenyans. We have never come to such a low. We will not battle our fellow countrymen."
Azimio is set to hold nationwide protests from Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21.
