Raila Odinga Launches ‘Tumechoka Citizens’ to Challenge Ruto’s Government
Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja party, launched the Tumechoka Citizens signature collection initiative on Tuesday, July 11 to discredit the administration of President William Ruto.
Raila, speaking at the Stephen Kalonzo Centre in Nairobi, urged all Kenyans to sign a petition in opposition to Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
“Having read and understood the intention of the promoters of this initiative, I hereby Support the Citizens’ initiative to remove from office Mr. William Ruto as President and Mr. Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” the website tumechoka.com pleads.
The initiative to collect signatures will be implemented in all 47 counties. Kenyans were urged to sign the petition in large numbers to convey their discontent with the current regime.
To advance the political discourse of the opposition, Raila argued that the people were obligated to safeguard their future and reject superfluous tax burdens.
“The signature will demonstrate that Raila is not speaking on his own behalf, but on behalf of millions of people who are walking alongside him,” the former prime minister said.
Martha Karua, the leader of the Narc Kenya Party, stated that the signatures were not necessarily intended to impeach President Ruto, but rather to demonstrate defiance against his regime and compel him to heed the people.
Her statement contradicted the website’s content, which stated unambiguously that the signatures would determine the next steps in the removal of Ruto and Gachagua.
ALSO READ: The Law on Removing a President: Explained
Karua explained that, contrary to the propaganda being circulated, the signature collection provided a forum for Kenyans to communicate their grievances and dissatisfaction.
“Because there is no location large enough to hold a meeting of the Kenyan public, we will convene as many meetings as possible throughout the country.
“The people will conduct their own signature referendum. By the time we reach 10 million, we will know that the majority of Kenyans are speaking,” she stated, noting that Azimio was discredited for a long time for claiming to have the support of the people.
At the center of Raila’s anti-government protest was the high cost of living, which he claimed was exacerbated by the new tax measures implemented to generate revenue at the expense of the people’s well-being.
“We are exhausted by the high cost of living, the tax increases, and the rampant corruption in this administration.
“We are sick and weary of being lied to and taken advantage of. Raila asserted, “We are tired of being ruled by a government that does not care about the people.”
The initiative to collect signatures is the most recent of the opposition’s protests and demonstrations organized in recent months.
Removal from office of the President
A Kenyan President may be removed from office on the grounds of impeachment or incapacity.
ALSO READ: Raila’s Shifting Inner Circle in the Battle Against Ruto
In Kenya, there are two grounds for impeachment of the president:
- Any serious violation of the Constitution or any other law, such as abuse of power, corruption, or treason.
- A violation of national or international law, such as genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity.
- A minimum of one-third of all MPs must support a National Assembly motion.
If the motion is approved, it is sent to the Senate, where the President is tried and given the chance to present evidence and a defense.
The Senate then votes on whether the accusations against the President should be upheld. Two-thirds of all senators must vote in favor of the motion to impeach the President.
The office of the President can also become vacant if the incumbent dies or submits a letter of resignation to the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Raila Odinga Launches ‘Tumechoka Citizens’ to Challenge Ruto’s Government
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