Raila Odinga Threatens Independent Electoral Commission Amid Select Committee Disregard
On Friday, July 7, the leader of Azimio la Umoja, Raila Odinga, vowed to form his electoral commission should the Select Committee proceed with the process without taking the coalition’s views into account.
The former prime minister addressed the press shortly after the planned Saba Saba demonstrations in and around Nairobi ended in battle.
Other Azimio leaders led demonstrations in other parts of the country on Friday, July 7, including former Gichugu MP Martha Karua in Kirinyaga.
“I want to make it abundantly clear that we will not participate in a Kenya Kwanza commission if they choose to ignore us. Raila threatened that Azimio la Umoja would also establish its electoral commission.
During the press conference, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi announced that nationwide protests will resume on July 12.
Months of failed negotiations between a bipartisan committee appointed by the ruling Kenyan Kwanza and Azimio in March prompted the protests.
The opposition demands that President Ruto’s administration address the escalating cost of living, open election servers, and cease the recruitment of electoral body commissioners.
Raila stated, “We have also stated that the people of Kenya have the right to demonstrate and picket, as these are constitutionally protected rights.”
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“Therefore, we are gathering 10 million signatures to delegitimize this regime. We will conduct our referendum in response to delegitimizing this regime.”
During the protest that moved from Kamukunji Grounds to Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), Raila claimed that Ruto’s administration had targeted him personally.
Mwangi wa Iria, former governor of Murang’a, stated that the Azimio la Umoja will soon lead a major demonstration in Central Kenya to denounce President Ruto’s regime.
“People from Central Kenya have been asking us when we will organize a large protest against this regime in the Mountain Region. Mwangi wa Iria reassured Azimio la Umoja’s supporters, “They need not be concerned, as we will be there.”
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka gathered his supporters in his backyard in Machakos County to spread an anti-government message.
Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and former Presidential Candidate George Wajackoya led their supporters in Kakamega and Vihiga Counties, respectively, on Friday during the protests.
Raila Odinga Threatens Independent Electoral Commission Amid Select Committee Disregard
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