NASA to resume protests, announces formation of peoples' assemblies

NASA leader Raila Odinga and other opposition leaders address a press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga yesterday approved of the ongoing boycott of certain products by their supporters.

However, he declined to comment on the success of the boycott called by NASA on Friday, saying he will address the matter soon.

Raila spoke as NASA announced a series of activities starting today, with a climax rally at the Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra, Nairobi County, to pile pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy President William Ruto to leave office and pave way for a fresh election.

“I am aware that the National Resistance Movement wing of NASA yesterday launched an initiative that is causing ripples across the country and some of you would be keen to hear my views,” he said during a press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.

Plans for the week

“I promise that you will get my views on this matter very soon, probably before the start of next week (Monday).”

As Raila kept the nation guessing, Siaya Senator James Orengo (Siaya), Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga and MPs Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Caleb Khamisi (Saboti) and Geoffrey Osotsi (nominated) and Miguna Miguna held a separate press briefing at Capitol Hill and lauded the progress.

The leaders outlined the resistance movement’s plans for the week, including plans to list more companies whose products should be boycotted by their supporters for allegedly supporting the Jubilee regime to subvert the people’s will at the ballot.

“Under the guidance of the NASA principals, we will engage in a number of activities. We will start with the Kibra rally tomorrow (today) at 1pm. Then demonstrations will follow this coming week,” said Orengo.

“We will inform our supporters whether we will have protests nationally or restricted to regions.”

Wandayi said they are pleased by how quickly and positively their supporters have embraced the boycott message.

“The effect will be painful and debilitating to the target organisations and we hope to resist the corporate world and their beneficiaries,” he said.

He said County Assemblies will be discussing petitions and motions on the people’s assemblies.

“This will be an opportunity to dialogue because people have lost confidence in this government, elections and the electoral body. We are in pursuit of justice and we don’t recognise this regime,” said Orengo.

He said the debate of succession should worry Jubilee because it confirms the symptoms of a bigger problem.

The senator said a similar strategy succeeded in the Soviet Union, Spain, Ethiopia and Sudan.

He said the peoples’ assemblies will be structured and operate at the grassroots “as stipulated in Article 1 and 3 of the Constitution”.

“The people must determine the direction as a country as per the Bill of rights,” said Orengo.

Miguna said what happened on August 8 and October 26 were not elections but “coronation rituals of individuals”.