• Raila said his planned mass action is provided for in the constitution.
• Ruto said Kenya risks lagging behind if all it preoccupies itself with are demonstrations.
Image: ENOS TECHE
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has defended his calls for mass action even as he warns the international community against meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
He said their planned mass action is provided for in the 2010 Constitution and any nation planning to issue a travel ban against him on that basis is free to do so.
Article 37 of the Constitution grants every person the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.
President William Ruto immediately fired back at Raila, saying Kenya has important pressing things to pursue and not endless street protests.
Speaking in Lamu where he attended a church service at Muungano grounds, Mpeketoni, Ruto said Kenya risks lagging behind if all it preoccupies itself with are demonstrations.
“We can't be planning demonstrations and mass actions while the rest of the world is focused on development, we will be left behind. We are focused on recovering our economy. We have no time for cheap politics,” Ruto said.
The head of state told Azimio to move on, adding that some of the issues they are raising have been overtaken by events.
“Those issues we are being dragged into have been overtaken by events. People are focusing on the way forward.”
But speaking in Kitale during the Trans Nzoia County People’s Baraza, unbowed Raila reiterated that he will lead mother-of-all demonstrations on March 6 if the government fails to address his three irreducible minimums.
“The Constitution gives Kenyans the freedom to express themselves and to picket and we shall fight for our rights whether they like it or not."
Raila last week issued a 14-day ultimatum to address a raft of demands, failing which he will lead the Azimio battalion in countrywide street protests.
They include allowing access to the servers, lowering the cost of living by returning pre-election subsidies and halting the ongoing reconstitution of the electoral commission.
Responding to alleged plans by the government to implore some Western countries to sanction him for threatening mass action, Raila said he will not be cowed and will continue with his push for electoral justice.
“They [Kenya Kwanza administration] are saying I should be sanctioned, we have no problem with other countries. We have a good relationship with all countries but we are Kenyans and we must be allowed to solve our internal issues. Let no foreign country interfere with our internal affairs, let us resolve our issues,” Raila said.
“There is nothing we shall do outside the Constitution, let them respect the people of Kenya. Let them not interfere with our internal affairs.”
The former Prime Minister said the international community should not be misled into interfering with the internal affairs of a friendly country.
The former AU High Representative for Infrastructure and Development maintained that the planned mass action is on and urged supporters to turn up in large numbers in Nairobi after 10 days.
Raila was accompanied by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, former presidential candidate George Wajackoyah, Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni and former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa.
“That procession will be very peaceful. We are peace-loving people though we are aware that the government will plant crooks to cause mayhem. We are prepared for them,” Karua said.
“This struggle is not for Raila Odinga but all Kenyans who are going without food because of the high cost of living.”
Wiper leader weighed on the interference by foreign powers saying, “I want to see which ambassador accredited in Kenya wants to go against people power as contained in Constitution 2010.”
Raila also accused President William Ruto of being economical with the truth regarding access to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission server.
The ODM chief challenged the electoral commission to open the server and allow independent forensic scrutiny to ascertain the truth.
“Servers have not been opened and if they are open the truth will come out. I challenge them to open the servers and allow for audit by a reputable firm,” Raila said.
The ODM chief was responding to President Ruto over his remarks on Thursday that the opposition were allowed to access the IEBC servers during the presidential petition at the apex court.