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Azimio La Umoja coalition yesterday embarked on a last-minute mobilisation for today’s round of protests now dubbed the Sufuria Movement.

Azimio chiefs urged Kenyans to hold the protests in their localities across the country while revealing that in Nairobi, protestors will converge at Joseph Kangethe Grounds, Kamukunji Grounds and Jacaranda Grounds.

“The Sufuria Movement kicks off tomorrow (today) and continues until the battle is won. We ask Kenyans to come out of their homes and bang sufurias, pots and pans. Further at that hour of midday, we call on motorists to stop wherever they are on highways and roads, hoot and flash lights in support of this movement,” Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua said in a joint statement.

The opposition leaders criticised the government for putting their lives in danger by withdrawing their security detail adding that the government’s move was not informed by any intelligence.

“Everyone associated with this party and the ongoing protests, including Hon. Raila Odinga, Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, Hon. Martha Karua, leaders of Minority and a host of Azimio governors and Members of Parliament have had their security withdrawn. We do not understand what intelligence perceptions informed the withdrawal of security,” the leaders said.

Karua explained that Raila did not attend yesterday’s press conference because he had a “critical engagement” in an undisclosed location.

Sources, however, told People Daily that the Azimio leader was attending to personal matters at the Coast but was due in Nairobi last evening.

At the press conference, Karua, who was flanked by Kalonzo and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, claimed the police were responsible for the violence during past protests.

She claimed the government had entered into partnership with a heavily armed squad named Operation Support Unit (OSU) which is embedded in the police ostensibly to kill protesters.

They linked the alleged group to the killing of protestors in Kamukunji, Mlolongo and Jogoo Road during last Wednesday’s protests noting that the squad, which travels in a group of five, fired at people from unmarked green, black, grey, silver, red and white Subaru vehicles and one Probox.

“These vehicles are always parked at the Traffic Police headquarters near the Kenyatta Hospital, at the Anti-Terror Police Unit and Nairobi Regional headquarters,” Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said.

“We restate that the only mission of the OSU squad is to assassinate or grievously harm Azimio leaders and Kenyans protesting against harmful government policies. It is the squad that will kill people tomorrow and during upcoming protests,” he said.

The opposition claimed the Kenya Kwanza Alliance resolved to recruit and arm their supporters for a confrontation with Azimio protesters after a meeting held at State House last Saturday.

They said some governors allied to the government had mobilised their supporters to stage counter-protests.

Azimio further claimed that an ethnic militia which has been put under police protection is being armed against communities along the Sondu-Kericho and Kisii-Kericho boundaries.

They accused President Ruto of waging war against the opposition and Kenyans in general as they exercise their constitutional right to protest.

“We take note that although Kenya is not at war, all police and other security officers have been recalled from leave to deal with protesters, the provisions of the Constitution on the right to protest notwithstanding,” Karua said.

She added: “Under our Constitution, the duty bearer is the State and law enforcement agencies. What is required of us as protesters is to give notice that we will be having a procession. We have given adequate notice, it is their duty to ensure no criminal elements infiltrate the protests and turn them violent. And in our experience, it is the police who have turned peaceful protests violent.”

Karua alleged that the government is spying on Azimio leaders’ homes and offices.
The coalition urged their supporters to remain peaceful, obey the law and respect private and public property during demonstrations.

They also told police to be professional and desist from being used as a cover-up to crimes that the “militias” intend to commit adding that their engagements are always peaceful until the police show up.