Azimio leader Raila Odinga has told Kenyans to brace for a return of the nationwide protests if the government will not heed calls to bring down the cost of living.
Speaking at Chungwa House on Wednesday when he met members of the Gusii Community living in Nairobi, Raila said that President William Ruto’s regime has given millions of Kenyans a deaf ear on the issues they are raising and is instead hellbent on imposing more taxes on them through the Finance Bill.
“The Kenya Kwanza leadership has refused to listen to the cries of hustlers, mama mboga, boda boda riders, and other Kenyans who can barely afford two meals a day and are insisting on imposing more taxes on the already suffering populace,” said Odinga.
The opposition leader said that on Thursday he and his colleagues in the Azimio La Umoja Coalition would address the nation on the contentious Finance Bill 2023 and “blow the trumpet” to give Kenyans the way forward.
“They want to table the controversial bill in parliament tomorrow for the second reading and then have the Treasury CS present the budget statement on Thursday next week. They are determined to have it passed, but Kenyans will resist,” he said.
The Azimio leader stated that eight months into the Kenya Kwanza administration, Kenyans have suffered more than ever before under previous regimes and are now tired.
“Kenyans are hurting. They are suffering. They came to power through the backdoor when they were not ready to govern and now want to pour their inefficiency on poor Kenyans,” he said.
The former Prime Minister called on Kenyans from all walks of life to show up in their numbers when he announces the return of the weekly protests.
He said they should turn up and fight for their rights.
