Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has declared that there will be protests similar to what the opposition staged in Nairobi and many parts of the country on Monday every Monday.
Addressing protesters atop his motorcade when he joined them in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, Odinga said Monday’s mass action was just the beginning of what he called a fight for justice.
“Kila jumatatau kutakuwa na mgomo. Kutakuwa na maandamano. Vita imeanza na haitaisha mpaka wakenya wapate haki yao,” he said. (Every Monday there will be protests, the fight has started and won’t end until Kenyans get their their right.)
Raila Odinga: Tumefika, leo tumekuwa na maandamano town. Jumatatu Wakenya watakuwa na maandamano ya kiamani. Wameshikwa na uwoga lakini tutaendelea mpaka bei ya unga irudi chini #Maandamano pic.twitter.com/l6QBa49N5m
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 20, 2023
He was flanked by his co-principal Martha Karua and other opposition politicians among them Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah and Eugene Wamalwa, among others.
At another stop in Kamukunji, Odinga said the turnout at Monday’s protests is a sign Kenyans are tired of President William Ruto’s leadership.
The former prime minister thanked Kenyans for turning out in large numbers despite what he described as the government’s efforts to suppress the mass action, and assured that they will not relent until the government listens to their demands.
“Wakenya wameonyesha punda amechoka. Hata kama wameleta askari,” he said.
Odinga had for the better part of the day lay low as his supporters engaged with police in the streets in parts of Nairobi and Kisumu, only voicing his support on social media.
Some minutes past 10 a.m., he announced in a tweet that they were on their way to join Kenyans in rejecting Ruto’s administration.
The opposition leaders later emerged at Serena Hotel near the city centre at around 2:40 p.m. but were tear-gassed out of the area by a squad of police officers.
Azimio Leader Raila Odinga and his entourage teargassed as they left Serena Hotel pic.twitter.com/S3YMrQ3I6a
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 20, 2023
Odinga’s protests are meant to compel President Ruto’s administration to honour various issues it has, among them the high cost of living, alleged discrimination in State appointments, as well as purported lack of transparency in the country’s electoral body, IEBC.
