Azimio calls for demos next week

By Peter Ochieng

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya leadership has called for yet another round of anti-government demonstrations next week.

Led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, they called for peaceful protests on Wednesday next week, in a bid to ensure President William Ruto listens to the voice of Kenyans, over the high cost of living.

"We remain determined to right the wrongs being inflicted on our people, including the state-induced high cost of living. Our peaceful countrywide demonstrations continue next Wednesday," said Kalonzo.

"We are serving notice to all the OCSs across the country for the Wednesday peaceful demonstrations. In the meantime, the signature collection, which now stands at 8 million, continues," added the former Vice President.

They condemned what they termed as police brutality especially in Nyanza, accusing security officers of flushing people out of their houses and beating them up, in order to prevent them from protesting against the government.

"Victims are being dehumanized. There is organization, and the attacks taking place are clearly planned. The perpetrators are clearly trained, whether they are police officers or goons. They are under a command structure and are well-resourced with the arms they need."

Kalonzo accused police of using force against peaceful demonstrators.

"Much as Ruto tries to depict Azimio demonstrations as violent, it is evidently clear that our demonstrations are peaceful, and it is the police who import violence and use of excessive force into them. We remind all that whenever Azimio holds rallies and demonstrations without police interference, they end peacefully without violence or distraction."

The leaders demanded the release of their collegues who were arrested in the course of the three-day anti-government demos, from Wednesday to Friday this week.