Raila calls for more protests at Kamukunji anti-Ruto rally

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga addressing during public engagement Saba Saba Rally at Kamukunji ground in Nairobi on July 7, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday launched a mass signature-collection drive, the first in a plan aimed at "delegitimising" President William Ruto's government as he announced the start of a series of nationwide protests.

During a massive anti-government rally at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, Raila penned his signature as the first of the 10 million he said Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya plans to collect in the next week.

The Azimio leader said the signature collection was the start of a process that will see Kenyans take back their power, with a demonstration planned on Wednesday to pile pressure on Ruto's government.

"We want to know how many people are in Azimio and that is why we are collecting signatures," Raila said, adding that the forms would be distributed nationwide, even as he accused Ruto of going back on his campaign promises and burdening Kenyans with punitive taxes.

At a later press briefing at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) in Nairobi, the former prime minister said his coalition would form a parallel electoral commission if the ongoing recruitment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners goes on. He said they would use the signatures collected to hold an anti-Ruto referendum.

"Today we have begun the movement to collect signatures so that Kenyans can say they are withdrawing their delegation of powers to the elected leaders and take it themselves... we will carry out a referendum to delegitimise this regime," Raila said at JOOF.

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga put his signature as they start collecting signatures during their Saba Saba public engagement rally at Kamukunji Ground in Nairobi on July 7, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

National Assembly Majority Leader Opiyo Wandayi announced the fresh protests, which he said would be presided over at the historic Kamukunji Grounds, the venue of a pro-multiparty rally 33 years ago and which has subsequently shone as an emblem of defiance.

Inside Azimio's plan for fresh protests against Kenya Kwanza

"Today was but the beginning of this new wave of civil disobedience. Following the success witnessed across the country, we will continue beginning this coming Wednesday when everything will be at a standstill," the Ugunja MP said at JOOF but did not reveal whether the demos would be weekly.

Earlier, the Azimio leaders had addressed a charged crowd at Kamukunji, the first stop in a series that would see opposition protesters breach into the Nairobi Central Business District since the first wave of demonstrations earlier this year.

"Kamukunji is where we spark the flame of revolution. Today we have sparked the flame," Siaya Governor James Orengo, one of the pioneers of the first Saba Saba, told the crowd who would later march to the Central Park as Raila had directed. 

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who co-chairs the bipartisan team formed in the wake of Azimio's initial protests, said their Kenya Kwanza colleagues had taken them in circles on recruiting IEBC commissioners.

"We entered the talks in good faith but we realised their intentions were not good. They shortchanged us on the preservation of election servers and the IEBC reconstitution. No election will happen in Kenya if Azimio does not participate in selecting IEBC commissioners," Amollo said.

Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka leads Azimio OKA Saba Saba rally in Kathiani market, Machakos County on July 7, 2023. [Dennis Kavisu, Standard]

Besides the skyrocketing cost of living and the recruitment of new IEBC commissioners, Raila raised the alarm over Kenya Kwanza's onslaught of Azimio that has sparked waves of defections since last August's elections.

As he led the rally and subsequent march, some rebel MPs from Raila's Orange Democratic Movement backyard met ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and his Transport counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen.

"Azimio's might is not in the MPs but in the people," the former premier added, saying there would be no dialogue going forward.

If Raila had wanted to rekindle the defiant spirit of Saba Saba, he had succeeded, as he charged his supporters enough to follow his convoy along narrow streets into the CBD and weather the tear gas police officers lobbed indiscriminately along the way. 

Later as he addressed the youth who tagged along at JOOF, Raila expressed his pleasure that they had entered the city centre declared out of bounds by Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei.

"We made it to town. That is the greatest achievement. They said we would not make it to Central Park. Have we not?" posed the Azimio chief.

Much of Nairobi looked like it did on July 7, 1990, with police clashing with opposition supporters amid the thick smog of tear gas. Security officers dispersed them with tear gas as sections responded with rocks, leading to a day-long cat-and-mouse game.

Several police vehicles had their windscreens shattered. Raila's car, too, was damaged in the melee.

Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria said the same officer who had allegedly shot at Raila during a previous rally did so again, even as he blasted police action against peaceful Azimio supporters.

"We are still where we were 30 years ago. The way they treated Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia and Raila is the way we have been treated today," he said. 

[Additional reporting by Anthony Achayo]