Ruto dares Raila to hold nationwide protests, says govt won’t be blackmailed
By Substone Osoro, February 22, 2023
President William Ruto has dared Azimio Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga to make real his threat to call for mass protests across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the Nairobi River Commission in Korogocho, the Head of State stated that his administration will not be blackmailed by people he claims have made it a character to use impunity to force their way.
While stressing the need for obedience to the rule of law, Ruto vowed that he will stop at nothing until he ends and banish impunity.
He averred that all Kenyans must respect the law since no citizen is more equal than the other. Ruto further stated that the nation is going to be run on the basis of the rule of law and the constitution.
“Hawa majama watulize boli. Ati wanataka kututisha na maandamano. Watafanya maandamano mpaka wachoke. Let me say for the avoidance of doubt. Kenya is going to be a country run on the basis of the rule of law and the constitution. All citizens have equal opportunities and no citizen is greater than the other.
“As President, I am going to make sure we avoid and banish impunity. There is nobody who is going to threaten Kenyans with impunity. Everybody must respect the law. We will make sure that everybody obeys the constitution. I want to tell our friends who are used to impunity who are used to forcing their way. That they will have no way. And nobody is going to threaten Kenyans,” he said.
Raila threatens mass action
Earlier today, Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to lower prices of basic commodities and taxes failure to which the opposition will call for mass protests across the country to force the Kenya Kwanza administration to take action.
Speaking during the opposition’s prayer rally at Jevanjee Gardens in Nairobi, Raila said high taxes imposed by the Kenya Kwanza administration have seen prices of basic commodities hit the roof.
He also attributed the high cost of living to President William Ruto’s move to remove food and fuel subsidies introduced by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to cushion the citizenry.
Raila said the move to withdraw the subsidies in the middle of drought and famine was reckless and heartless and demanded reinstatement within two weeks.
The former Prime Minister also demanded the suspension of the ongoing exercise to recruit electoral commissioners, saying the process is flawed.
“The ongoing process of reconstituting IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) must stop immediately. A bipartisan task force must be put in place to restructure IEBC in a manner that ends its monolithic operations,” Raila said.