A showdown looms on Friday between police and supporters of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya party who are set to stage anti-government protests in Nairobi and various parts of the country.
In Nairobi, Azimio opposition coalition leader Raila Odinga has promised to lead a major rally at the Kamukunji Grounds where he says the “Third Liberation” of the country will be marked in commemoration of the Saba Saba Day.
At Kamukunji grounds, Odinga has vowed to kickstart a campaign of “defiance and civil disobedience” against the current government of President William Ruto which he has accused of being punitive on the people.
Last week, the Azimio coalition said it will today begin a mass signature collection to “signal the withdrawal of their sovereignty from officials of this illegitimate regime including Mr William Ruto and all elected leaders who supported the Finance Bill 2023.”
From Kamukunji grounds, the Azimio allied leaders together with their supporters plan to stage a march to the Nairobi CBD, a move police have warned against.
On Thursday, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei said no gathering would be allowed outside the Kamukunji grounds.
“We have only legalised the Kamukunji meeting and we will not allow any other meeting anywhere else,” Bungei was quoted by the Nation.
The former premier has urged citizens to back his move to stand against what he terms as ‘dictatorship’ and reject newly introduced taxes which he said have made the lives of Kenyans unbearable.
“It has become clear that we are dealing with a dictator who also has no respect for wananchi. Ruto has become a heartless tyrant,” he stated last week.
“As a people, we are not given to suffer in silence; we do not kneel before dictators and beg for their mercy. Even the few who do still suffer humiliation and even death, so we fight! Let us proceed with a bold determination that we are going to stick together and work together.”
In the meantime, the situation remained calm on Friday morning in most parts of the city including Kamukunji grounds where the Saba Saba rally is scheduled to take place.
Security deployment has however been intensified in areas considered opposition strongholds, even as most businesses remain closed in the city.
