Azimio Protest: Raila leads demonstrations in Kawangware, Kibra
National
By
Winfrey Owino
| Mar 27, 2023
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has led demonstrations in Kawangware, Dagoretti North Constituency, and Kibra.
The opposition leader showed up at noon in Kawangware and made stops as he addressed his supporters who had shown up in numbers to support him.
Raila made short speeches at each stop and reiterated that the protests will go on until the government lowers the cost of living.
"We will continue demonstrating every week until the cost of living is brought down. They must lower the cost of living," Raila says in loose Swahili.
The Raila-led demonstrations have been marred by drama. For instance, some showed up with empty cooking pots while others mostly males removed their shirts and covered their skin in maize flour.
Sources close to The Standard say the ODM leader and his supporters accessed Ngong Road from Kawangware via Naivasha Road.
Despite being met by police officers who lobbed tear gas canisters and water cannons to disperse them. They crossed over to Kibra slums.
"You are all soldiers of this country. I want to thank you all for showing up to fight for this country," Odinga told his supporters at Kibra.
Despite the majority of supporters coming out in numbers, some joined the demonstrations as a loophole to loot, a source at the demonstrations has told Standard.
The Azimio team made limited rounds in the city after they were barred from accessing the Central Business District.
During the protest, Raila was accompanied by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, George Wajackoya, Jeremiah Kioni, Eugene Wamalwa, Wycliffe Oparanya, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Otiende Amollo among others.
The leaders dismissed plans to arrest the opposition chief, saying it would destabilize the peace of the country.
"I hear they are planning to arrest Raila. If you touch 'baba' you touch Kenya. I ask you, if they arrest baba we come out in numbers. They must be ready to kill all of us until the price of maize flour comes down. Let us keep on," Karua told Azimio supporters in Kibra.
Meanwhile, Prof Makau Mutua, Raila Odinga's close ally, has shared videos of police officers lobbying teargas at their car.
"Happening now. Baba's car under tear gas and water cannon attack," Mutua's tweet reads.
The demonstration is still underway.