We may call for fresh protests over cost of living – Azimio MP
The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance may call for a fresh round of protests if President William Ruto does not heed Kenyans’ calls to ease the cost of living.
Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo on December 3, told reporters in an interview that the opposition will not take lightly the government’s laxity to scale down the skyrocketing commodity prices.
A high cost of living, Omanyo said, is detrimental to business growth as consumers cut expenditures because of the unaffordability of products.
The MP spoke less than a week after opposition chief Raila Odinga said Azimio will seek other ways to press the government to lower the cost of living as the National Dialogue Committee(Nadco) talks team failed to address the issue.
“As Azimio La Umoja we won’t tire in our struggle to make sure the cost of living comes down,” Omanyo said.
“When Kenyans cry because of the high cost of goods, we in Azimio also cry. The report that the National Dialogue Committee presented must be revisited lest we call for a fresh round of protests.”
On November 29, after the release of the Nadco report, Raila said other ways the opposition will resort to in its push to address the high cost of living will include but not be limited to consultations with the people.
He said at all times, the opposition will retain the right to call on the people to take steps that Azimio deems necessary to force the government to lower the cost of living.
Raila said Azimio made it clear that they would support the document ensuing from the talks but would treat the hardline on the cost of living as the beginning of another phase of the struggle.
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Azimio called off deadly street demonstrations to give bipartisan talks by the Nadco a chance.
The mandate of the committee was to facilitate dialogue and consensus building and recommend appropriate constitutional, legal, and policy reforms on issues of concern to the people of Kenya.
Raila said Azimio remains deeply disappointed that the committee was not able to agree on the one fundamental issue on which Kenyans are united; the high cost of living.
Omanyo who spoke during the National Government Affirmative Action Fund Football Tournament at Acunet Stadium in Malaba in Teso North subcounty said opposition’s support for Kenyans won’t deter Azimio from resuming demonstrations to push for the lowering of the cost of living.
“Unless they reconsider the report especially the issue on the cost of living, Kenyans will go back to the streets,” she said.
Azimio called off its planned protest in May to give the bipartisan talks a chance.
On August 11, the opposition accused the government of infringing on Kenya’s right to demonstrate after accusing the police of being brutal on its protesting supporters.
The opposition also on the same day released a list of its supporters it claimed were killed by being shot by cops during protests against the cost of living.
Azimio alleged at least 60 people were killed by police during the anti-government protests countrywide.
At the NGAAF tournament, Butula sub-county beat Teso South 3-0 to emerge a winner. They bagged Sh20,000 trophy uniforms and playing boots.
We may call for fresh protests over cost of living – Azimio MP