NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 16 — Azimio legislators have vowed to “hold responsible” President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua if Raila Odinga “catches a cold”.
Speaking during a press conference at Parliament, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said Odinga’s supporters will defend him against any threats during a protest march to State House slated for Monday.
The leaders singled out Gachagua who they accused of threatening to eliminate Odinga.
“We had him say that they have a final solution for Raila. We want the DCI to summon Gachagua to write a statement because should anything happen to Baba, Gachagua and Ruto will be responsible,” Sifuna said.
“Should he even catch a cold before Monday, we will hold them accountable.”
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said Monday remains a “public holiday” and called on employers to release Azimio supporters to allow them participate in demonstrations.
“Monday has already been declared a public holiday (sic). We want to call on our supporters to turn out in large numbers and join us in fighting for what belongs to us,” Wandayi said.
The leaders accussed President William Ruto’s administration of making Kenya “a one-community nation where critical appointments to public offices go only to members of one ethnic group”.
Audience with the President
The Azimio MPs said Kenyans will seek to speak to President Ruto directly, register their displeasure with the state of affairs and demand inclusivity in appointments
They also accused the government of incompetence.
“It is now clearly evident and undisputed that Kenya Kwanza is an extremely incompetent and clueless regime and to allow it to continue pretending to be governing is to betray the country,” Sifuna said.
“Everything that can go wrong is going wrong. Our Kenya shilling has collapsed, and the regime doesn’t know what to do. The dollar has disappeared. Cost of unga (flour), electricity and fuel is still going up,” Sifuna added.
Odinga announced the start of mass action, which includes boycotts to key services, last week in what was designed to culminate into a major protest in the capital.
So far, the anti-government protests have taken place Kilifi, Migori and Kisumu Counties.
President Ruto has said the government will not interfere with peaceful protests, “as long as organizers maintain peace and ensure no loss of life and destruction of property.”
