Azimio call off Thursday demos

By Peter Ochieng

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leadership has called off protests planned for Thursday, 4th May, 2023.

The demos were called off after the Kenya Kwanza Alliance withdrew the name of Eldas Member of Parliament (MP) Adan Kenyan from the bipartisan committee.

Keynan was nominated to present Kenya Kwanza in the committee, attracting condemnation from the Raila Odinga led Azimio.

The legislature was elected on the Jubilee Party ticket, which is part of Azimio.

Saku MP Dido Rasso has been nominated to replace Kenyan in the committee.

Earlier, Azimio in a letter announced that it was willing to suspend its planned Thursday anti-government demonstrations, if Kenya Kwanza acceded to its demand on Keynan.

The letter was signed by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

It read: "We, in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya announce, on a without prejudice basis, that we are prepared to go back to the bipatisan talks with our opposite side in Kenya Kwanza and are prepared to stand down the demonstration scheduled for Thursday, 4th May, 2023, provided that Kenya Kwanza recuses Hon. Adan Kenan from the bipatisan committee and immediately announces his replacement on the said committee.”

Kenya Kwanza, in a subsequent letter signed by Parliamentary Majority Leaders Kimani Ichung’wah and Aaron Cheruiyot, welcomed Azimio’s move to call off the protests.

“We appreciate the conciliatory route taken by our Azimio counterparts to engage in talks and stand down the planned street demonstrations should Kenya Kwanza recuse Eldas Member of Parliament, Adan Keynan,” they said.

"As we have always stated, we are willing to bend backward for the sake of the progress of the country, national unity, and stability of the nation.”

The bipartisan talks are expected to proceed.