Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua now says that she believes in demonstrations because they bring about change.
Speaking in a podcast hosted by former Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo, Karua insisted that all the changes that have been effected in Kenya have been as a result of demonstrations.
She said that it is the constitutional right of the people and should be exercised when the government is not listening to the people.
She noted some historical instances where Kenyans took to the streets and changes were effected by the people who were in charge of the country at the time.
She said multipartyism, the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the National Dialogue talks could not have been born had the opposition not called for demonstrations.
"If you have people in authority who do not want to even do the simple task of budgeting, then Kenyans need to use their residual power. You have said you do not believe in the streets, I do.
"Without demonstrations, multi-party politics would never have returned, we would not have started the constitutional review, we would not have the new constitution, even the NADCO talks, because those talks did not bring anything for Kenyans. They would not have been on the table so Kenyans have to be able to push. There's nothing wrong with being in the streets," Karua said on Thee Alfa House.
She added that the government should at all times respect people's rights and allow them to demonstrate whenever they want to do so.
Karua said things like teargas should not be used on demonstrators because most cannot stand it.
"This is to the government, respect people's rights. Let people come out and demonstrate. We are being told in pockets of this country you can demonstrate but not in Nairobi.
"We don't want guided demonstrations we want to demonstrate anywhere anyhow and within the law. Do not teargas people who are just using their voices."
After the August 2022 elections, the opposition led by Raila Odinga and his Azimio brigade resorted to weekly protests across the country.
Later on, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki proposed a change in Article 37 of the Constitution.
Key among the changes was to zone areas where protestors would assemble so as not to disrupt the normal activities of citizens.
To demonstrate, one would also seek the consent of the people whose businesses would be affected.