Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio La Umoja party, has cancelled his much-anticipated Kamukunji Rally after accusing police of injuring protesters.
The former Prime Minister also claimed that goons were paid to vandalise property in order to blame the opposition.
National protests, however, will continue until President William Ruto repeals sections of the Finance Act 2023.
“We have witnessed savage attacks on our supporters by police officers who discriminately shot, injured and killed a number of people across the country, including here in Nairobi,” Raila stated.Â
Raila accused President William Ruto of staging a tactical elimination method against protesters, whom he praised for standing up for their rights.
“Where we have reached, it’s only good to note that there is no going back. We will continue to exercise our constitutional rights until when our demands shall have been met.Â
He claimed that scores of protesters were arrested for engaging in an activity clearly protected by the Constitution.
Raila observed that the country was gradually devolving into a police state in which officers could maim and kill at will.
“We must not allow it to happen to our country again. We have always said that these meetings remain peaceful until police decide to break them up with bullets and teargas,” Raila claimed.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader stated that ordinary citizens were determined to shape their own destinies, noting that the Kenya Kwanza government had abandoned them in their hour of need.
He also acknowledged protesters who came from “the most remote parts of the country” to express their dissatisfaction with Ruto’s regime.
“The message is out loudly and clearly that Kenyans are tired. Kenyans are tired. People are tired of new promises on top of old promises. People are tired of being ignored.
“People are tired of being told what to do and when to do it. People are tired of going to bed hungry, facing the new day hungry and returning to bed hungry. People are tired of walking from one corner of this city to another, one town to another, one office to another, trying to find, a job and finding no job,” Raila stated.
