• The opposition chief warned that if the Kenya Kwanza administration attempted to disrupt the meeting, it will have itself to blame.
• "This regime is trying to paint a horror movie picture of this event. The maandamano they're talking about is theirs, not ours," he added.
Image: RAILA ODINGA/TWITTER
ODM leader Raila Odinga has said the Azimio Coalition will be holding public consultative meeting and not a protest.
In a statement on Monday, Raila clarified that the Kamukunji event scheduled for Wednesday is aimed at bringing Kenyans together to share ideas on nation building.
"The Kamukunji event on Wednesday is a public consultative forum. It is not a call to public protest. It is not maandamano. It is a coming together of Kenyans to share views on the state of affairs in the country," he said.
ODM said the meeting was in line with Article 37 of the Constitution on assembly, demonstration, picketing and petition.
Article states, "Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities."
Raila reiterated that the meeting will be a peaceful, orderly gathering.
"We have appealed to those attending to be peaceful and orderly and we trust they will be," Raila said.
The opposition chief warned that if the Kenya Kwanza administration attempted to disrupt the meeting, it will have itself to blame.
"This regime is trying to paint a horror movie picture of this event. The maandamano they're talking about is theirs, not ours," he said.
He reiterated that the Azimio Coalition members and their supporters will hold parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations at Jacaranda Grounds.
"Ruto and his deputy have a very narrow view of our Republic. They do not know where Kenya has come from and they do not know where they want to take it," he said.
He said the celebration will be conducted in honour of patriots.
"It will be Jamuhuri ya Wazalendo; men and women who have made sacrifices for this country and who know where the country was supposed to go."
Raila added that the opposition was still concerned about the "very brazen attack" on Chapter Six of the constitution. The Chapter deals with leadership and integrity.
Reiterating the remarks by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Raila said President William Ruto was imposing a mafia state on Kenya.
"People facing serious criminal cases like money laundering, fraud and giving kickbacks are appointed to critical positions, including leadership of the very institutions that have taken them to court," he said.
He added that the jokes that, in Kenya the mafia have a country, had become a reality.
"It has been said jokingly in the past that whereas other countries have a mafia, in Kenya the mafia have a country. This is now officially true," Raila said.