This time round, it'll be business unusual - Duale tells Raila

Defence Cabinet secretary Aden Duale on Saturday hit out at opposition leader Raila Odinga accusing him of engaging in post-election violence.

According to Duale, Raila is no longer leading peaceful demonstrations but post-election violence.

He said that moving forward, the government has to act to restore sanity in the country.

“I am speaking as the minister of defence, that this time round the property and lives of the people of Kenya will be protected by the government elected by the majority of people of Kenya,” he said.

Thursday was the third time the opposition was staging anti-government protests in the country in a bid to pile pressure on president William Ruto to agree to its demands.

The demonstrations have badly affected the economy with the transport sector, manufacturing, retail and services sector some of the hardest hit by the disruptions.

There has also been widespread concern among Kenyans as goons take advantage of the protests to rob innocent residents and loot business establishments. Various businesses have also been vandalized.

He said that it was the duty and responsibility of the government to ensure that the lives and properties of Kenyans are secure.

Duale said that Kenya was a country governed by the rule of law and that anyone found engaging in acts of lawlessness will force the full force of the law.

“The other day you passed through Eastleigh and by the time you were leaving businesses were counting losses. It has been the case in many parts of the country where hard-working Kenyans have been left crying after their property was either destroyed or looted. This is completely unacceptable and we will not allow it anymore as a government,” Duale said.

Duale was speaking in Garissa town when he graced the 13th Annual Garissa County Quran memorization competition at Masjid Ibn Qaayim.

He added:

“And so we are telling him[Raila] that this time round it will be business unusual. Anyone planning to carry out or engage in criminal activities will have him or herself to blame.”

The former Garissa township MP  further hit out at retired President Uhuru Kenyatta accusing him of sponsoring the anti-government protests, claims he did not back up with evidence.

“My appeal to the retired president is to be like the other retired presidents. Go and enjoy your retirement benefits in peace. Leave president William Ruto to lead this nation and watch the Kenya kwanza administration transform this country’s economy that you badly messed up and left in tatters,” said Duale.

On Thursday, Odinga announced that the Monday anti-government protests will be the mother of all demonstrations.

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers[KAM], on its part, noted that protests have caused disruptions at different levels ranging from the industry’s access to materials as well as their delivery of products to the market and Kenya's ability to access products.