Legislators from the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition have said Monday’s anti-government protests were just the beginning of a series of similar mass action in coming days.
Calling it a “rehearsal”, the MPs who addressed the press outside Parliament buildings in the capital said Kenyans should anticipate more protests as the opposition continues to pressure President William Ruto’s administration to heed to their demands.
“Today was just a rehearsal, the real one is coming,” Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said.
The legislators trashed the National Police Service’s stance that the protests are unlawful, saying the mass action is in the interest of Kenyans.
“Baba himself is a human Gazette notice. If he decides that today we will be out fighting for the rights of Kenyans, then we are out there. This is not the end of it,” another MP said, adding “This is just a taste of it. We are going to do it as long as Baba says we for it.”
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo together with MPs Amina Mnyazi, Opiyo Wandayi and Ken Chonga are among lawmakers said to have been arrested at the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) during the protest.
“We are giving the government a 2-hour ultimatum to release arrested Azimio leaders, unconditionally” – MP Junet Mohamed pic.twitter.com/PcwN7d61mt
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 20, 2023
The opposition legislators claimed their security had been withdrawn and faulted the Kenya Kwanza administration of preventing them from exercising their constitutional rights.
“Police are being misused. As we speak, security for MPs and senators has been withdrawn but we want to tell them even if they withdraw our security, wananchi will still protect us,” the female MP said.
Odinga organised the protest 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.
He had last month given the Kenya Kwanza administration a 14-day ultimatum to meet the demands but it went ignored. He then began countrywide rallies to mobilise supporters to reject Ruto’s administration.
The former prime minister had said Monday’s “grand march to State House” will be peaceful, kicking off at Nairobi’s CBD to the president’s official residence.
Odinga nowhere to be seen
By noon Monday, exchange between the police and protesters had been witnessed in various parts of the capital and Kisumu, with one police shooting recorded in Nairobi’s Toi Market near Kibera slums.
Police lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse protesters in most locales, and access to key State establishments such as the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), State House and Parliament buildings, was barred by the heavy police machinery deployed
No horsing around… anti-riot police officers patrolling the Nairobi CBD #Maandamano
📸: @mwangi_jayson pic.twitter.com/fnruwSgVJB
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 20, 2023
Odinga and his co-principal Martha Karua had yet made appearances in the streets at press time, only posting on social media in support of the protest.
The former prime minister tweeted a video of protesters outside the KICC some minutes past 10a.m. writing “Naona Kazi Imeanza tuko njiani nasi. #DateWithDestiny20thMarch.”
Karua meanwhile said “The illegitimate Ruto regime cannot suspend the right to peaceful procession and unleash a reign of terror on Kenyans.”
The illegitimate Ruto regime cannot suspend the right to peaceful procession and unleash a reign of terror on Kenyans.
We must continue to resist until we restore our constitutional order.#Datewithdestiny20thmarch
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) March 20, 2023
