Finance Bill Aftermath: Raila’s Return Sparks Street Protests
On Tuesday, opposition leader Raila Odinga is expected to return from a foreign trip and join coalition partners for a major rally at Nairobi’s historic Kamukunji grounds, which portends a new wave of anti-government demonstrations.
According to GossipA2Z sources, the planned consultative rally could signal the resumption of street protests following the passage of punitive tax measures that will increase the already high cost of living.
The coalition’s haste to resume anti-government demonstrations was also necessitated by the failure of 14-member bipartisan talks that were intended to address, among other things, the high cost of living.
The talks broke down when President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza rejected opposition demands to suspend the recruitment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners for 30 days, as the reconstitution of the electoral body was part of the negotiations following the contentious election on August 9, 2022.
Mr. Odinga was on a week-long trip to Poland, where he met with other opposition leaders at a round table.
Winnie, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and his youngest child, accompanied the former prime minister.
Yesterday, Mr. Odinga’s spokesperson Denis Onyango confirmed to the Sunday Nation that the ODM leader will return on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Raila Odinga’s Azimio Coalition Reveals Post-Finance Bill Plans
Ruto caution Since then, President Ruto has issued a warning to opposition leaders, stating that his government will not tolerate violent protests or property destruction.
In an interview with France 24 in Paris, President Ruto stated that the opposition should abandon any notions of removing him from office.
He stated that despite the closeness of the election, Kenyans elected him to lead the country for the next five years.
“I have no objections to Raila Odinga. I have no objection to his organizing demonstrations. Here in Paris, there are demonstrations. I have just requested that Raila and his organization refrain from violence and property destruction. This is because we are a democracy, Dr. Ruto stated.
Previous street demonstrations, which were canceled to make way for inter-party talks, always culminated in bloody gun battles between police and opposition supporters.
In the majority of instances, police have used excessive force to disperse protesters.
Mr. Odinga, in a recent press conference before leaving the country, threatened unspecified action if Dr. Ruto pushed through the 2023 Finance Bill, in which the coalition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya has deemed several clauses on tax measures to be punitive.
He told his supporters to be on high alert and declared, “Should Ruto take control of the National Assembly, we will regroup and defeat him in the National Assembly of the entire Kenyan population.”
ALSO READ: Parliament Rejects Three Finance Bill 2023 Changes Amidst Opposition-Government Clash
“We urge Kenyans to remain vigilant and on high alert. If they force this upon you, do not give up or surrender. Join us in the next action we will communicate,” Mr. Odinga stated.
John Mbadi, national chairman of the ODM, and Opiyo Wandayi, minority leader, have stated that Mr. Odinga will use the Kamukunjirally to inform his supporters of his next course of action.
Mr. Mbadi stated, “He will announce the next course of action we will take as a coalition.”
Mr. Odinga’s running mate in last year’s general election announced on Thursday that the coalition’s next course of action will be announced at the rally on Tuesday.
Ms. Karua stated, “We have decided to invite Kenyans to a consultative rally at Kamukunji grounds next Tuesday at lOam to determine the next course of action.”
“Lack of leadership” Mr. Odinga will also return to a storm in his ODM party after it was revealed that some MPs are pushing for a meeting with him upon his return to discuss effective leadership of the National Assembly, which, according to them, collapsed during the fight against the Finance Bill, 2023.
According to reports, a first-term Nyanza representative is organizing the meeting. According to reports, a lack of leadership and poor strategy contributed to the coalition’s demise in the fight against the bill.
The fight against the anti-people bill, as described by Azimio, was billed as President Ruto and Mr. Odinga flexing their political muscle in Parliament.
ALSO READ: Nairobi Senator Sifuna Hints at Azimio la Umoja’s Street Protest after Controversial Finance Bill Passage
However, poor strategy and a lack of coherence in consolidating ideas and strategies within the leadership of the coalition allowed President Ruto’s forces to easily defeat all proposed amendments.
According to sources within the coalition, a cold war between members and a portion of the leadership, which they felt was imposed upon them, prompted some MPs to deliberately sabotage the opposition’s efforts to mount a serious challenge to the Bill.
“What’s missing in this Chamber is leadership. On this Bill, we had the people and several Kenya Kwanza MPs waiting for us to mount a serious challenge, and they would have joined us,” said a member of parliament serving his second term.
Some MPs said they were confused because Minority leader Wandayi had initially said during a meeting with the Azimio Business Council earlier this month, attended by Mr. Odinga, that the coalition would not table amendments to the Bill, only to change its position later.
In addition to Mr. Odinga’s public statements, the majority of Members of Parliament stated that the Minority Leader had provided no plan for how they would move forward with the Bill.
The MPs said that even though Mr. Odinga was fighting the Bill on the public platform, they had a duty in Parliament to strategize on how to counter Kenya Kwanza, but there was no leadership.
Finance Bill Aftermath: Raila’s Return Sparks Street Protests
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