Azimio leader Raila Odinga has planned a tour of Mt Kenya to try and rev up his supporters from the region as he prepares to resume the weekly demonstrations.
Usawa kwa Wote party leader Mwangi wa Iria who recently vowed to lead the demonstrations against the Kenya Kwanza in the region has announced he will be hosting the team.
"We are coming to engage the people, those who have been asking why Murang'a has not participated in the national debate calling for a reduction in the cost of living, finally we are here," he said.
Speaking in Murang'a town, the former governor said it will be a consultative forum that will bring together the leaders from the Azimio camp and key stakeholders who feel have been left out.
He said he had since notified the security of the baraza to be held at the Mother's Union Hall.
The Opposition leader, he said, will later address the public on the streets.
Apart from the high cost of living, other issues to be discussed in the meeting include the opening of elections servers that Raila has been calling for.
"We will be meeting to chart our own course of survival by not being part of the company that is the government and the possibility of us investing in a company of our own,” he stated.
Speaking Thursday last week during a public baraza at Ufungamano Hall in Nairobi, Wa Iria sought to dismiss reports the Central region did not participate in the planned demonstrations.
"It is like Central Kenya is not involved in demonstrations, it is not true. For us (Central) we usually study first. Our demos are coming and I will personally lead it over the cost of coffee, tea and other food commodities," he said.
During the 2022 general election, Ruto had the most votes as compared to Raila.
Murang'a in fact delivered 72, 526 votes to Raila representing 17 per cent of the total votes as Ruto bagged 343,349 which is 81 per cent.
The Mt Kenya meeting which apparently is his first in the region since he called the protests early this month before agreeing to suspend it comes following a meeting with Wa Iria in Nairobi recently.
The April 12 meeting was held at Raila’s Karen residence.
Raila is said to have implored the leader to join his camp.
"Usawa Party Leader Mwangi Wa Iria today had breakfast with Raila Odinga at the later’s Karen residence to discuss issues of national importance among them national dialogue and proposed parliamentary bipartisan discussions," ODM posted on its social media pages.
While addressing the press Tuesday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, in a statement read on behalf of Azimio leaders stated they will resume the protests next week after the end of Ramadhan even as they insisted they will not participate in the dialogue process.
According to Kalonzo, President William Ruto has exhibited absolute bad faith towards the process which they want to have other stakeholders included rather than a pure parliamentary.
