Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua claims there are plans to arrest and detain Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga over the ongoing anti-government protests.
The opposition demonstrations pushing for economic and electoral reforms entered the second week on Monday, March 27, 2023.
Addressing Azimio supporters in Kibera, Nairobi, Karua claimed that there were plans to arrest Raila, ostensibly to stop the weekly protests.
Karua, who ran as Raila’s running mate in the last presidential election, said the opposition would not allow the Kenya Kwanza administration to go for the former prime minister.
“Mimi nataka muelewe wako na mpango wa kushika baba (Raila). Wakimgusa watakua wamegusa Kenya. Wakikaribia baba tutatoka sisi Kenya yote. Hatutakubali,” Karua said.
Loosely translated, “I want to let you know that these people are planning to arrest Raila. If they touch him, they would have touched all of us. We won’t allow it.”
Karua spoke moments after the police blocked Raila’s motorcade from accessing the Central Business District (CBD) using Ngong Road.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had warned the opposition against holding the demonstrations in the city or any part of the country, threatening to arrest any leader involved in the protests.
Karua, Raila dare police to arrest Azimio leaders
Karua and Raila dared the police boss to arrest them, insisting that there was nothing illegal about the planned protests.
Speaking during a church service at Jesus Teaching Ministry in Embakasi on Sunday, March 26, Raila said: “Koome can come and arrest me personally”.
“The people of Kenya have a right to picket and we will do so tomorrow. Koome should stop intimidating us.
“Don’t try to bring chaos tomorrow and threatening us that you can arrest all of us. Koome, I dare you, come arrest me personally tomorrow,” Raila said.
The Azimio leader said he would be on the frontline of the demonstrations and ready to be arrested.
“Mr. Koome, don’t even send police officers to come and arrest me. Come and arrest me personally. Come and face me one on one.
“If we don’t fight for the rights of Kenya, we won’t have any country to be in in the near future,” he stated.
On her part, Karua said the coalition was not asking for any permission from the police to demonstrate since the same is enshrined in the constitution.
“Koome should know that we are not asking for any permission from him to picket.
“God has given us freedom, and it is well taken care of by our constitution,” Karua said.
She said the coalition had written to police to ask for security and not permission.
“We will demonstrate peacefully. Koome should stop bringing chaos to our peaceful protests,” she added.
