Embattled Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni has detailed the measures he had to take to avoid being tracked by police.
This comes amid concerns from leaders allied to the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition regarding the random arrests of individuals from the faction.
Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on Monday, July 24, 2023, Kioni said his phone was switched off on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to escape the police dragnet.
He narrated that he started using his phone on Sunday after his visit to Ndaragwa where he had gone to avoid being tracked.
“My phones were off… we have a recent phenomenon in our roads… they are called Subarus. I haven’t used these phones since Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I started using these things on Sunday when I said mbaya ni mbaya,” he stated.
The former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament (MP) also decried that the random arrests of opposition leaders are signs of dictatorship.
He also accused the President William Ruto-led administration of using cunning means to go against opposition leaders including framing people in order to settle scores.
Kioni further vowed to remain unshaken and continue with the opposition’s anti-government protests until the regime lowers to cost of living for Kenyans.
“Today we have people who actually say no to this constitution, at least during that time (Jubilee regime) we never had somebody planting bhang; we never saw vehicles carrying Sudanese number plates being used to chase you down. But am not saying it was right then, it wasn’t even then, it is not right now, this is not the country we want to be in,” Kioni stated.
While condemning the act, he implored the National Assembly to exercise its oversight role on the executive.
“Our Members of Parliament have dropped the guard, why we have three arms of government is that we have the balance and checks. It is parliament that should have been able to come strong and tell the executive to hold it, that is beyond, we are not going to pass this budget; we are going to file a motion of impeachment. The tools for checking an excessive Executive exist in Parliament. Parliament abandoned us from day one,” he added.
