MPs: Azimio camp out to overthrow President

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga at during a presser at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga foundation on March 9, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Kenya Kwanza MPs have accused the Opposition of trying to overthrow President William Ruto's administration.

The leaders, who spoke in Nairobi on Tuesday, accused Azimio chief Raila Odinga of trying to intimidate the Ruto administration through mass action.

"The call for mass protests is not only primitive but unsavoury. It is an attempt to overthrow a legitimately elected government," said Tharaka MP George Murugara.

He added: "We would like to tell them that the back-door for getting into government was shut after the last elections. It will not be opened again. Not in the Ruto administration."

Accompanied by 15 MPs, Murugara also called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to protect Kenyans and their property on March 20 when the Opposition plans to kick off anti-Ruto demonstrations.

"Our people's properties are divine. Any attempt to destroy property in the name of streets and violence for a lost cause shall not be entertained," he said.

"We urge the Interior CS, who we know is up to the task, to ensure peace-loving Kenyans are protected," the MP added.

Last week, Raila announced commencement of mass protests against the government, which will culminate with a major demonstration on March 20 in Nairobi.

He said the protests would include a boycott of some companies and products associated with key government officials.

Raila, who made his fifth attempt at the presidency last year and lost narrowly to Ruto, has been adamant that he wants to reclaim their "stolen" electoral victory.

At the same time, legislators from Kenya Kwanza are calling for a probe into revelations by the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango that she was coerced by former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani to irregularly approve the release of more than Sh15 billion just days to last year's elections.

"This is unprecedented and we demand thorough investigations into this matter. The National Assembly public petitions committee is already seized of the matter and we expect it will be pursued to the last bit," the MPs said in their statement.

They said the public deserved to know the truth and called on Azimio to stop what they termed diversionary tactics. "Trivialising and personalising this issue is pathetic because it denies Kenyans the chance to know how the Sh15 billion may have been looted. This impunity must be called out and we shall not relent," said Murugara.