Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga refuted claims that he is to blame for the outcome of his Azimio-led demonstrations. Mr Odinga and his Azimio la Umoja coalition first called for demonstrations earlier this month to protest against government failures to curb rising prices, and what he says was the fraudulent victory of President William Ruto in last year’s election.
Speaking to BBC Africa, Baba, as he is fondly referred to, said that he does not take any responsibility for the unexpected outcome.
During the Monday mass action, cars were vandalized, property destroyed, people attacked, journalists attacked and one shot dead. Since the protests began last week, at least three people have been killed in the violence.
It’s our right
However Raila maintained that the protestors were exercising their human rights as state in Article 1 of the constitution and Article 37.
Article 1: All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.
Article 37: Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.
On the issue of protestors hurling stones at police and other citizens, Raila said that the protestors were only exercising defensive violence.
He claimed that the police went and sealed residences while throwing teargas at the people.
And this the people were throwing stones to defend themselves as they wanted to get out.
Raila upon being asked whether he desires to have a sit down with President Ruto to address the ongoing political and economic issues, he categorically stated that there are things that must be fulfilled first. He went ahead and issue a list of four conditions which were:
That the president must respect the multiparty democracy, Ruto must agree to open servers to check election results, must stop the reconstitution of the EABC, and must be willing to address the issues of the high cost of living.
What are your thoughts on the same?
By Wanjiru Mbaru