Photos: Raila Odinga addresses media in full combat gear

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga addressing the media in Nairobi on March 9, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Dressed in regalia that resembled full combat gear, Raila Odinga took the stage at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices in Upper Hill, Nairobi as Kenyans waited anxiously to hear what he had to say.

The Azimio leader had issued a 14-day ultimatum to President William Ruto to lower the cost of living, failure to which he'd lead the country in protests.

The ultimatum had ended on March 8, and Kenyans were waiting to hear whether he would rally his supporters to the streets as he had threatened.

Several Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leaders curtain-raised for him, including his running mate in the 2022 presidential election Martha Karua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eugene Wamalwa.

Seated quietly on the stage, Odinga waited for his turn to give "direction" to his troops.

And when he stood to speak, the full combat hogged the attention of journalists and pockets of supporters who were at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices.

Raila Odinga in full combat gear during his address to journalists in Nairobi on March 9, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

From military boots, to military cap, he looked like a brigadier ready to go to the battlefield.

The regalia was khaki brown in colour, matching from the shoes, all the way up.

The clothing was so much unlike Odinga, who usually appears for such events in either a full suit or broken suit. On some occasions, he wears casual outfits.

The military-like fatigues that Raila Odinga wore on March 9, 2023 are an uncharacteristic of him. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Perhaps to suggest that March 9 was not any other day for him, he decided to appear in a dressing only former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki have managed to conspicuously sport in recent times.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (R) Kithure Kindiki in combat gear on November 24, 2022 during his visit to Wajir County. [Courtesy of Interior ministry]

And in both occasions, the two public officers were out to communicate a key message - that they were in charge.

"I wear combat uniform for tactical and operational reasons. You will increasingly see that, depending on the mission and the location," Kindiki said on NTV on February 20, referring to the recent instances he wore military uniform in Wajir and Isiolo counties.

Uhuru Kenyatta wore the military gear on several occasions, with the first instance being on September 5, 2014.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta in military uniform on October 14, 2014 during KDF Day at the military academy in Lanet, Nakuru County. [File, Standard]

Again, on October 14, 2014, he wore the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) uniform during the KDF Day held at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County.

For Kenyatta, it was easier to understand why he was in the regalia.

Odinga, who has branded himself as the "people's president", announced on Thursday that the countrywide mass action that he had threatened about, would start immediately on March 9, 2023.

He wants President Ruto to yield to his demands on lowering the cost of living, reintroducing fuel and food subsidies, discarding the IEBC selection panel that has already been set up, allowing the Judiciary and the Legislature to operate autonomously, and reducing taxes to manage the cost of living.

In the full military-like gear, Odinga said that the countrywide demonstrations will culminate in a major protest in Nairobi on March 20, 2023.

Who will blink first? Is it him, or the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces William Ruto?