Azimio demos: Heavy police presence in Nairobi

By Peter Ochieng

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya supporters are expected to troop to the streets, especially in Nairobi in the course of the day for demos, called by Raila Odinga.

As such, heavy police presence is being witnessed in the Capital, after police termed the protests illegal.

Anti-riot police officers have been stationed in Nairobi’s main entry and exit points.

The points include parts of Ngara, Uhuru Highway and Haille Selassie Avenue.

On Monday, President William Ruto warned that his government will not ‘fold arms’ incase the protests degenerate into violence, and destruction of people’s property.

But in a rebuttal, Odinga said they do not intend to course chaos, insisting that the roads they will be using during the protests do not have businesses.

He said they will protest peacefully, and present their petitions to four government institutions.

The institutions are the Office of the President, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), The National Treasury and the Public Service Commission (PSC).

"We assure Mr. Ruto that there will be no destruction of people’s property during our peaceful protests. There are no businesses along the streets we are intending to hold our demonstrations,” said Odinga.

“The state cannot purport to ban our activities on grounds that it is protecting public property while at the same time sponsoring the destruction of property in another corner of the City,” added the ODM party leader.

In Kisumu, ODM chairman in the Lakeside County Paul Otieno Akeyo, in a statement on Monday said they support Odinga’s call for resumption of demos.

He urged members of Azimio outside Nairobi to remain calm and peaceful, in solidarity with colleagues demonstrating in Nairobi.