


Kenya: Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition – Statement on the Intention to Create Division and Discord among Mt Kenya Leaders and Residents (17.07.2023)







“Government has withdrawn the security detail for Raila Odinga, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka ahead of the week-long planned demonstrations. Others whose security has been withdrawn are governors Gladys Wanga, Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, James Orengo, Ochilo Ayako & 50 Azimio MPs” (Tuko.co.ke, 17.07.2023).
“Reports indicate that the government has withdrawn security detail attached to Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga. It is reported that Raila’s security – of more than 10 police officers – that protect him as well as those guarding his homes in Nairobi, Kisumu and Siaya have been recalled. Also, Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka’s security detail has also been withdrawn ahead of the opposition’s planned anti-government protests starting Wednesday this week. This comes even as the opposition coalition remains relentless with its anti-government protests, despite warnings from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and other government officials” (TV47, 17.07.2023).
Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do. If you do or if you don’t… no matter what it’s just a haywire. The same can be said for President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government. It has a challenger in Raila Odinga and his Azimio. They are relentless and on the front-lines.
What is striking is that Kenya Kwanza government officials have forgotten or seems to think these sorts of things stops Odinga. He thrives in chaos, demonstrations, looting and outright dissent in the streets. That’s where he belongs and where he thrives. He earns political currency and with the creation of instability. Odinga sooner or later forces the hand of the government. That’s why he does this and he has naive followers believing he will save them. People who has never been saved by him every time he has sought a deal or a handshake with a government in question. Therefore, it is amazing that people buy into his maverick means in 2023.
Odinga knows all of this. With the loss of the security detail for him and his lieutenants is nothing new. Similar acts happen to him with CORD and NASA. He is just pushing the same OKOA vibes with a little sprinkle of cost of living. It is all bound to be a stalemate and way for Odinga to get a settlement. While the public who fought for it will not see any returns. It is just jobs for the boys and another pay-check for the mighty.
Ruto know all of this. He has seen it before and the same has other Kenyans too. They are just getting violated by Odinga who uses the citizens who dissent as pawns in his game. These people are just foot-soldiers who can risk it all. Just so Odinga can get a handshake or a fancy “un-official and un-elected” role in government. That’s what he does and he is just anticipating the next move. He could easily betray the whole Azimio and take a bargain himself, and no one should bat an eye at that.
Ruto and his allies should know better. The rhetoric and the stances are only putting more wood on the fire. They are only endangering people more. It is making it risky and adding the stakes. Without considerations of the implications or the possible costs of doing so. It can only damage and cause more pain. A pain and suffering, which is coincidently what Odinga needs to pursuit his mission. A mission that has a price, but not his… and we all know it by now.
This here will not do anyone any good and will only create more possible chaos. There will be no winners here and only a lot of losers. A lot of losses and little to nothing gained. Just more hurt and little to no remedy. Peace.











“Henceforth, we are taking bold measures against the illegitimate regime of Ruto, in response to his actions against us. Ruto is imposing taxes without our consent and implementing laws that only make our lives more difficult. We cannot tolerate the current state of taxation and its accompanying injustices any longer. Ruto has even removed subsidies on essential goods like fuel, unga (maize flour), electricity, and school fees, while providing subsidies to helicopter owners and financing the lavish lifestyles of his allies with our hard-earned money” (…) “Fellow Kenyans, we want you to understand that WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. We are not wrong. By resorting to civil disobedience and protests, we cannot be wrong unless the law itself is wrong. The same law that establishes the government and its institutions, such as parliament, the courts, and the police, also permits us to protest, picket, boycott, and present petitions. We are within our rights, and we refuse to be intimidated. Let us remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr., who once said, “Now it means sacrificing, yes, it means sacrificing at points. But there are some things that we’ve got to learn to sacrifice for. And we’ve got to come to the point that we are determined not to accept a lot of things that we have been accepting in the past.” As a country, we have reached that point. We invite all our fellow citizens to prepare to join the Kamukunji in Nairobi and other locations across the country on Friday” (Azimio la Umoja. 04.07.2023).
Here we go again, again and again. Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Alliance yesterday launched a new round of demonstrations. They are moving the goalpost yet again. That’s not new, but Raila Odinga goes back to the drawing board here.
We have seen this all before… and they are re-starting it. They had already suspended demonstrations and such earlier in the year. The Bi-Partisan Talks have stalled and gone nowhere apparently.
Nevertheless, the Azimio is going to the barricades and the battlefield when they are calling the government – illegitimate. That’s a death-sentence to talks and negotiations. This means the Azimio is dismissing and denouncing Kenya Kwanza government. That is the gist of things. Not only undermining Ruto and his authority but saying his not supposed to be there.
Azimio did take a case to the Courts, and they lost. They didn’t succeed like they did in 2017. No, they lost and didn’t have proof eligible for the courts. Therefore, the election was upheld and Ruto was sworn in.
Odinga is now using the taxes as a reason. The questions about governance and reasons for it is legit. The reasons to oppose and stand up against hefty taxation is a righteous one. However, you cannot win or be able to win an argument when you call the other side “illegitimate”. That’s serving yourself an own goal… and not winning himself.
This is just utter nonsense. It will do more pain, plights and suffering without serving the communities it’s supposed to serve. Peace.



