Raila Halts Wednesday Protests, Emits New Orders
The Azimio la Umoja Coalition has postponed the nationwide demonstrations scheduled for July 26.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the coalition led by former prime minister Raila Odinga urged its supporters to instead light candles in memory of colleagues who lost their lives during previous demonstrations.
Azimio estimates that at least fifty people were killed during the disturbances, while hundreds more are still being treated in hospitals for injuries.
“Azimio has decided that on Wednesday, instead of the previously announced peaceful demonstration, we will conduct parades of solidarity and vigils for victims of police brutality in various locations across the country.
“We are calling on Kenyans to come out and light candles and lay flowers as a sign of respect and remembrance for the victims,” the statement read in part.
The opposition instructed its supporters to light candles, arrange flowers, recite prayers, and recite the names of alleged police brutality victims.
“We have visited hospitals and morgues and determined that police and hired gangs have shot and killed or injured dozens of individuals from close range,” the statement continued.
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The delay occurred a few hours after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki promised to deploy police officers as early as 1:00 a.m. to apprehend protesters captured stealing or destroying infrastructure.
The CS emphasized that the police deployment from the previous week was merely a warm-up for the forthcoming demonstrations.
“Two Wednesdays ago, we wished to determine whether Kenyans are capable of conducting peaceful protests. Three hours later, however, a great deal of harm had been done in various parts of the nation, and by the time police were deployed, it was too late.
“That was a week ago. We decided not to commit the same crimes as the same perpetrators. We will maintain our resolve, he told the press on Monday.
In a previous statement read by the former governor of Murang’a County, Mwangi wa Iria, Azimio indicated that it was prepared to conduct protests again, but shortened the number of days from three to one.
Since the protests began in March 2023, Amnesty International confirmed that over thirty persons had died at the hands of the police.
Raila Halts Wednesday Protests, Emits New Orders