• According to the law, the mandate to declare public holidays is vested in the cabinet secretary in charge of the Interior Ministry.
• Raila on Thursday last week officially declared the start of mass action against the Kenya Kwanza government but delayed the onset of the demos to March 20.
Image: FILE
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua now says Azimio leader Raila Odinga should declare March 20 a public holiday to allow their supporters to participate in mass action.
Speaking in Siaya on Tuesday during the Azimio Public Baraza, Karua said it's incumbent upon Raila to make such a move as the people's president.
"March 20 is our day and I ask that Baba (Raila) should declare that day a public holiday. We cannot demonstrate demanding for our rights and go to work," she said.
According to the law, the mandate to declare public holidays is vested in the cabinet secretary in charge of the Interior Ministry.
"The minister may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days," Section 3 of the Public Holidays Act states.
Raila on Thursday last week officially declared the start of mass action against the Kenya Kwanza government but delayed the onset of the demos to March 20.
The declaration followed the expiry of a 14-day ultimatum he gave the government under President William Ruto to lower the cost of living and open IEBC servers.
"As your leaders, we commit to fight, resist and defy this illegitimate regime side by side with you until our voices are heard and respected," Raila said at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi.
"We will be with you to the bitter end. It is action time, let us all come out, wherever we are to make our voices heard and respected," he added.
Karua said if President Ruto is sure he won the August 9 General Election, he has nothing to fear concerning the opening of the IEBC servers.
"Hiyo siku your excellency twakuomba iwe public holiday, tuweze kumaliza hii kazi. Hatuwezi kuwa na wizi wa kura miaka nenda miaka rudi," she said.
Loosely translates to: "We ask you for your excellence to make that day a public holiday. We cannot have rigged elections every other year".
"Na kama wewe unadai ulichaguliwa, fungua server (And if you claim you won, open the server)," Karua added.
The former Justice Minister reiterated that Azimio won the presidential contest and failure to open the servers leaves them little option but to rally their supporters to the streets to seek justice.
She said the mass action is not for Raila's benefit but for the interest of the electorate whose choice of the ballot was violated.
"Nawaomba, tujitolee tuingie Nairobi sote kwa njia ya amani tukomboe nchi yetu wananchi waewache kuumia."
(I ask you all to volunteer and come to Nairobi so that we can peacefully redeem our country so that citizens can stop suffering)
Raila said the mass action will take the shape of street demonstrations, picketing, boycotts, disobedience, peaceful petitions and sit-ins.
"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," he said.