Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Thursday declared the start of mass action against the Kenya Kwanza regime which he termed as illegitimate.
In a hard-hitting statement delivered at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, Raila said they have invoked the provisions of the Constitution to launch a massive peaceful movement of defiance against an illegal government.
"Take note that on the 20th of March 2023, we have a date with destiny in Nairobi. On that day our supporters throughout the country shall stage a massive procession in Nairobi for a legitimate and inclusive government. Save the date," Raila said.
"We begin telling Ruto and Gachagua that we can’t keep living on false promises. We begin telling Ruto and Gachagua our clear understanding that when we keep taking painkillers long enough, they will cease killing the pain; and that is when the real pain will begin," he added.
Azimio's 14-day ultimatum for the Kenya Kwanza government to lower the cost of living and open IEBC servers lapsed on Wednesday at midnight.
Raila said even after the government was given time to act and act on the issues raised on February 22 at Jevanjee gardens, nothing has been done.
The ODM leader said the defiance campaign will take the shape of peaceful picketing, peaceful protests, boycotts, strikes, disobedience, peaceful petitions, peaceful sit-ins and peaceful demonstrations.
"We also urge the victims of retrogressive policies of this illegitimate regime including workers, doctors, teachers, nurses, lecturers, students and the Business community to join this political revolution and movement for change. We are stronger together."
Raila said immediately the Kenya Kwanza regime took office, it has embarked on implementing measures whose effect has been to make the cost of basic commodities and services unaffordable to most Kenyans.
He cited 15 grounds which he said informed the need for the mass action including the removal of subsidies on Unga, electricity and fuel.
He said President William Ruto is also creating unnecessary and unconstitutional offices to reward his cronies.
"For this reason, Ruto must go," he said.
Other grounds are ethnicity, importation of GMOs, over taxation, attempt to single-handedly reconstitute the IEBC, division of the country along religious and sectarian lines and victimisation of the Cherera Four.
Raila said given the foregoing, Azimio has no other option than to unleash the people’s power through mass action dubbed ‘The Movement for Defence of Democracy’.
"We launch the MDD because Kenya Kwanza is illegitimate and therefore incapable of listening to the cries of the people. The people are now taking back all their delegated powers. It is now action time," he said.
Following this development, it remains to be seen whether or not Ruto will give in to pressure and soften his earlier stance that he will not be intimated by protests.
Ruto said Kenya is governed by the Constitution and there is no room for lawlessness from people who are used to using blackmail to have their way.
"Everybody must respect the law and this country is going to be governed by the rule of law and we will make sure that everybody obeys the Constitution," he said.
Ruto spoke on February 22 when he launched of the Nairobi River Commission in Korogocho.
"Kwa hivyo hawa jamaa watulize boli. Ati wanataka kututisha na maandamano, watafanya maandamano mpaka watachoka," he said.
