Your demos will end on Monday, Gachagua tells Raila
National
By
Brian Okoth
| Apr 01, 2023
Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, April 1 warned Raila Odinga against holding continuous demonstrations in Kenya, saying Monday, April 3 will be the last day for the protests before the government "asserts its authority".
Gachagua was speaking in Malava, Kakamega County during the thanksgiving ceremony of the area Member of Parliament (MP) Injendi Malulu.
"I want to assure the people of Kenya today from Kakamega County that tomorrow nobody, and I repeat nobody, will be allowed to destroy property anywhere in the Republic of Kenya," Gachagua said in his speech.
"I want to caution those young men, who have been taking advantage of the violence unleashed by Raila to steal property, mug people and loot property, that Monday (April 3) is their last day to do so.
"The laws of this country are clear. What Odinga is leading are no longer demonstrations. It is post-election violence, mugging, theft, robbery and robbery with violence. Those are felonists.
"If they care, to look at the penal code, [they would know that] the consequences are extremely heavy. Monday (April 3), the Government of the Republic of Kenya will assert its authority in protecting life and property and upholding the rule of law. I am just giving that caution to those young people that it is not going to be business as usual. It cannot happen, and it will not happen. It is wrong, it is immoral and it is unacceptable."
Gachagua's remarks come two days after Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga said that Monday, April 3 will be the "mother of all protests".
Odinga is leading demonstrations to lower the cost of living, get inclusivity in choosing the next IEBC commissioners, and have the electronic voting system data opened for Kenyans to see.
The former prime minister said that the demonstrations will be held twice every week - on Mondays and Thursdays.