A section of women leaders and professionals have pleaded with Azimio leader Raila Odinga to call off Monday’s mass action in Nairobi.
They said women and children stand to bear the greatest brunt should anything go wrong.
“We fear that the demos will not be peaceful as promised and it is for this reason we are asking the Opposition, though very late in the day, to call off the mass action,” Catherine Mugo, a city lawyer, said.
The women leaders addressed the media on Sunday evening in Nairobi.
They were drawn from Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Commonwealth Business Women Network Kenya, Kenyan Coalition of Youth for Peace and Security, Global Peace Federation and United Women Council.
Former Ambassador to the UN Josephine Ojiambo said the voices of women, youth and elders have not been heard or invited to speak on the planned mass action.
“We have no guarantee that the demonstrations will be peaceful. Indeed, fracas has already broken out in parts of the country,” she said.
Ojiambo said women are not convinced with Azimio leader Raila Odinga's claim that only a small group of protesters will be sent to deliver their petition to State House.
They noted that State House is a restricted area and the group will not even be allowed to watch from a vantage point as the memorandum is delivered.
“We are similarly not impressed by the clanging of sufurias and the berets,” Ojiambo said.
Pauline Warui, who represented Commonwealth Business Women Network Kenya, said there are no guarantees women and children will be protected.
“We are asking ourselves, is the timing right? Is the high cost of living just in Kenya or is it the same elsewhere?” Warui posed.
