Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga has said his planned nationwide public engagement forums which kick off on Wednesday, December 7, are not demonstrations as interpreted by a section of Kenyans.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Odinga said, the Azimio coalition will be “consulting with the people of Kenya.”
“If we wanted to do a demonstration or protest, we would just inform the police to provide security and do it, but we are not demonstrating or engaging in any act of thuggery and hooliganism and no property is going to be destroyed,” he said.
“The government should not use this as an excuse to bring thugs there to try to disrupt this function.”
Odinga also added that he will hold parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations on Monday, December 12 at the Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, Nairobi.
The former prime minister said he will hold a peaceful rally with “Kenyan patriots” as President William Ruto will be leading the country in marking the national celebrations in a separate State function.
“On the 12th of December, we are going to Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, not Kamukunji. We will be celebrating Jamhuri Day with Kenyan patriots and it is also going to be a very peaceful congregation. No protests, no picketing, although that is also guaranteed by the constitution of Kenya,” said Odinga.
Among those accompanying the Azimio leader were NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni.
The rally on Wednesday will be held at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, with Odinga engaging Kenyans on various issues he has with Ruto’s administration.
