Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga asked the coalition’s supporters to end anti-government protests at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, and resume on Thursday morning.

Speaking to Nation, Raila said Azimio would not stop agitating for the rights of Kenyans.

“We will continue with our peaceful demonstrations as planned. But we will stop at 5 p.m. today and resume tomorrow (Thursday) morning. We will continue to agitate for our rights as Kenyans, we won’t give up,” Odinga told the local media outlet.

The anti-government demonstrations were marked by reported arrests of opposition leaders. Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Kilifi South Member of Parliament Ken Chonga, and Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Teddy Mwambire are among the leaders said to have been arrested by law-enforcement officers.

Odinga’s bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, is said to have been freed, but the whereabouts of Embakasi MP Babu Owino are yet to be established.

Azimio has condemned the arrests of politicians within their outfit and demanded their release.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the arrests and or abductions of Azimio leaders and close associates of leaders without any colour of right or the slightest justification.

“In Nairobi, police have today arrested Wilfred Odallo, MCA Mabatini, Redson Onyango, MCA, Ngei Ward, as well as Erick Otieno and Anthony Otsula; both Budget officers at the Nairobi County Assembly, who have similarly been arrested and are being held at undisclosed locations. 

“These illegal arrests and or abductions are a desperate attempt by The illegitimate Ruto Regime to paralyze Azimio and its top leaders and to sabotage the exercise of our constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.

“We demand the immediate release of those detained, noting that their detention is not only malicious but also unlawful. If it were not so, they would have been taken before the nearest courts and charged immediately,” Azimio said in a statement.