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Azimio to formally write to police ahead of Friday rallies

The opposition will hold a mega rally at Kamukunji grounds.

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by JAMES MBAKA

News05 July 2023 - 06:36
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In Summary


  • The opposition will on Wednesday notify the Inspector General of Police of their planned rallies.
  • The outfit will hold simultaneous rallies across major towns in the country.
Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya speaking at a past event.

Raila Odinga's Azimio is expected to officially notify police of the planned rallies across the country on Friday.

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya said on Wednesday that they will write to police notifying them of their meetings.

The opposition has planned simultaneous rallies in major towns across the country as they seek to launch what they have termed the Third Liberation.

Raila will lead a major rally at the historic Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi on the day that will coincide with the commemoration of the Saba Saba movement.

The law requires that police be notified of any planned rally or protest so that they can provide security.

On July 7, 1990, key opposition luminaries opposed to the then President Daniel Moi's Kanu administration staged a big rally at Kamukunji that was marred by a clampdown by police.

Scores died while over 5,000 sustained injuries as protesters battled police in Nairobi and major towns across the country.

In remembrance of the day, a moment regarded as crucial in the country's democratic journey, Raila has convened a mega meeting at the same venue. 

Raila has asked his supporters to turn out in large numbers in other venues across the country as well and express their disappointment with President William Ruto’s administration.

Oparanya said they will be writing to the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome because they also intend to hold rallies across the country.

"We shall be notifying the police of our planned rallies as required under the law on Wednesday by writing to the Inspector General,'' he told the Star.

"We shall then copy the Officers Commanding Police Stations in areas where we shall be holding the rallies.''

Showdown looms after Raila asked his supporters to converge at Kamukunji grounds with police said to be keen to forestall the protest marches.

While Raila has maintained that the Constitution allows freedom to picket, protest and street marches, his decision to call for simultaneous rallies across the country in his civil disobedience push.

“We are here to announce that our Kamukunji meeting is on in Nairobi this Friday, as we had announced. But it is not just a Kamukunji in Nairobi, but a Kamukunji across the country where this Third Liberation will be launched,” Raila said on Tuesday.

“From Friday, let’s proceed with a bold determination that we are going to stick together. We are going to work together. Let us stay with this fight until the end.”

Police had last Tuesday allowed Raila to hold a rally at the same venue without hindrance after he returned from a trip to Poland.

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