Azimio leader Raila Odinga has told President William Ruto to brace for bigger pushback against his government as he rallies his supporters countrywide for follow-up protests on Wednesday.
In a statement on Tuesday at the SKM Command Centre, Raila said Friday's Saba Saba demonstrations were just but the beginning of much bigger civil disobedience against the Kenya Kwanza regime.
"What we started last week was only the first wave. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we must return with an even greater force and in greater numbers. And we must keep doing this until Ruto listens to and respects Kenyans," he said.
The opposition chief is pushing the government to lower the cost of living and stop the implementation of new tax regimes contained in the Finance Act, 2023.
He asked his supporters to heed his call and turn up in numbers in Nairobi and counties where his co-principals will be leading parallel protests.
"Once again, we appeal to Kenyans to come out in even bigger numbers and make their voices heard. With time, Ruto will respect Kenyans," he said.
In a new strategy, the Azimio boss dispatched key members of the coalition to lead anti-government demonstrations at the grassroots.
In Nairobi, the protests will be led by Makadara MP George Aladwa who will work closely with his Westlands counterpart Tim Wanyonyi and Embakasi East's Babu Owino.
Aladwa said Azimio was adopting a new strategy to take the protests down to the grassroots.
"It is our people who have asked that we take the demonstrations to them and that is why we have clustered the regions,'' he said.
Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron will work closely with Nyando counterpart Jared Okello to lead the protest in the lakeside city.
In Kisii, Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi and his Bomachoge Borabu counterpart Obadiah Barongo will lead the charge.
In neighbouring Nyamira, it is understood that ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire will lead.
"It is very clear that Kenyans are up in arms to save their country and their future," Bosire said.
The former Kitutu Masaba MP said that the opposition is keen on the 10 million signature collection to exercise Article One of the Constitution.
"Because they decided to discredit our signature collection, we want to manifest ourselves as a team that is anchored in maturity, if we find Kenyans have responded to the extent we want, then we will invoke article One of the Constitution," he said.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is expected to take charge of Ukambani region protests and the signature collection programme.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua is expected to lead the anti-Ruto campaigns in the Central Kenya region.
She will work with ousted Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni and former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria.
In the Mt Kenya East region, former Meru Governor Peter Munya will take charge of the campaigns for the first time in months.
