• President Ruto’s troops say opposition chief Raila Odinga wants to overthrow the government, dismissing claims of police brutality in the ongoing Azimio protests.
• Addressing a press conference, 15 legislators alleged the heightened opposition pushback is not people-oriented, but meant to overturn the regime.
Image: JULIUS OTIENO
President William Ruto’s troops say opposition chief Raila Odinga wants to overthrow the government as they dismissed claims of police brutality in the ongoing Azimio protests.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament Buildings on Thursday, they said opposition pushback activities are not people-oriented, but meant to overturn the regime.
“Azimio wants to overturn the government that was legitimately elected. We won’t allow a coup to happen in Kenya again,” Kajiado Senator Kunar Seki said.
While calling on the police to crackdown harder on protesters and their leaders, the senators said the law enforcers have exercised great restraint in the face of violent protesters.
“People are making assertions that there are extrajudicial killings. That is misleading. It's the criminals who have infiltrated the demos. Police are doing very well,” Senator Samson Cherargei said.
The senators also included Danson Mungatana (Tana River) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu).
Others were John Kinyua (Laikipia), Veronica Maina (nominated), Tabitha Mutinda (nominated), William Kisang (Elgeyo Marakwet), Karen Nyamu (nominated) and Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma).
Cherargei said police have acted professionally and asked them to remain firm against any person, including elected leaders, who want to disrupt peace through protests.
The vocal lawmaker blamed Opposition chief Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly funding the chaotic demonstrations.
“We want to ask the International Criminal Court to be alert because what is happening are acts of criminality," he said.
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa asked the President to lock down the country and fairly deal with the opposition "if that is what it will take to restore peace and order in the country".
“If it takes three, four or five days to lock down this country and deal with these people, let it be,” he said.
He asked the police to arrest Raila and any opposition leaders who are disrupting peace for their selfish interests.
Kajiado Senator Kanar Seki claims Azimio's intensified protests aims to overthrow Ruto's government.
“Azimio wants to overturn the government which was legitimately elected. We won't allow a coup to happen in Kenya again,” he said.
Mandago said he's going to initiate a process to recall Raila and Kalonzo's children from EALA on grounds that they are supporting the demos.
Mandago urged youths not to be used by the political class. He said the EALA lawmakers should be recalled because their fathers cannot be using other people’s children while theirs were away.
“The violent protests we have seen are clearly caused by criminals and goons and not peaceful protesters. I will initiate a process of recalling Winnie Odinga and Ken Kalonzo to come back and lead the protests from the front. We cannot allow other children to be in the streets while their children are safe," he said.