ICC is waiting for you if you disrupt peaceful protests – Azimio warns Ruto
By Mary Ouko, July 18, 2023
Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition has warned President William Ruto against disrupting the coalition’s anti-government protests.
Led by embattled Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, the coalition asserted that the President still has a pending case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and as such he should tread carefully.
Kioni who was speaking at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, also warned that disturbing peaceful protesters in any way will attract serious consequences.
“Huyu jamaa ambaye aliingia State House kupitia dirisha kesi yake ICC bado haijaisha ni mashaidi walikufa ama waliuawa lakini ksi bado iko. Tarehe ishirini thubutu kusumbua wakenya wanapoandamana kwa njia ya amani, ICC bado inakungoja,” he stated.
He, at the same time, called on anti-riot officers to be careful so that they are not embroiled in a case at the ICC. Kioni mentioned that officers should not accept to be instruments of violence against peaceful protesters.
“Kwa maasakari wetu, usije ukatumiwa vibaya ukaona unaeza tumia ile umepatiwa kwa njia isivyo utajikuta ICC na ukienda kule wewe mwenyewe ndio utajitetea sio serikali ambayo imekufanya upige hio risasi,” he stated.
Kioni’s remarks come ahead of anti-government protests expected on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The Azimio faction led by Raila Odinga has remained hell-bent on proceeding with the demonstrations despite calls from the government to call them off.
“Kenyans have never lost a liberation struggle. We get beaten, arrested and killed but we never lose. We will soldier on. Arrests, trumped-up charges, illegal detentions and incarcerations have happened in the past. We have always remembered the victims as the heroes of our liberation,” he stated.
“As we soldier on, we condole with the families of all those killed.. and celebrate them as martyrs of our liberation. We acknowledge all those being arrested and charged and acknowledge them as political prisoners. We shall overcome,’ he added.