President William Ruto has warned the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party against holding demonstrations on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Speaking in Ruai, Nairobi, on Tuesday, Ruto said that he will not allow Kenyans to lose their lives during protests, after six Kenyans lost their lies during Saba Saba protests on Friday, July 7.

“They protested on Friday and 6 Kenyans died. Do you want more demonstrations tomorrow so that more Kenyans lose their lives? No, it will not happen,” Ruto said.

“It is not right for a few people to think they can disorganize the republic to sabotage and cause mayhem and destruction of property. There is no type of politics that leads to loss of lives; that is anarchy and we will not allow it. I will not allow any other Kenyan to lose their life so that another person can satisfy his political ambition that is not going to happen.”

Ruto’s warning comes hours before anti-government protests planned by the opposition outfit on Wednesday.

Azimio vs Ruto

Azimio is protesting the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, which they say if implemented fully will make life unbearable for a majority of Kenyans.

On Tuesday, Azimio launched a drive to to collect at least 10 million signatures in a bid to “delegitimate” Ruto’s reign.

“The digital platform we have unveiled today is complementary to all other efforts and platforms including civil disobedience, tax boycotts and defiance that are meant to compel the regime to repeal the Finance Act 2023 and take deliberate steps to lower the cost of living,” Azimio said in a statement.

Azimio says it is also pushing for a bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, an audit of the 2022 elections and an end to the invasion and compromising of parties and MPs.

The opposition has accused the government of being the proprietor of violence during protests by provoking demonstrators.

“We intend to move to court and institute prosecution against individual officers who are involved in unconstitutional and illegal actions against protesters in the course of our activities,” the statement added.

Azimio announced that it will hold a rally at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi before proceeding to the streets to demonstrate.

“We are back tomorrow, at Kamkunji in Nairobi and Kamkunjis elsewhere across the country,” Azimio added.