- The security detail of Azimio principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and more than 50 MPs allied to the coalition was withdrawn two weeks ago.
- The DP said the security personnel seconded to the Azimio leaders and their allies were recalled to bridge a shortfall of officers needed to quell the street protests.
Image: DPCS
The government will reinstate the security detail of Azimio leaders after three months, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.
Gachagua made the revelation on Sunday saying the security will be reinstated after the government is sure there will be no street demonstrations.
"I'm sorry your security was taken away. Your officers were taken to deal with demonstrators. Your officers will be returned to you after three months when we are sure there are no demos," he said.
Gachagua spoke on Sunday at the Alliance High School where he lay the foundation stone for a new Chapel as part of the Centenary projects.
The DP said the security personnel seconded to Azimio leaders and their allies were recalled to bridge a shortfall of officers needed to quell the street protests.
"We did not have sufficient officers to deal with demos for three days," he said in reference to the previous week's three-day protests that ran from Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21.
The security detail of Azimio principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and more than 50 MPs allied to the coalition was withdrawn two weeks ago at the height of renewed anti-government street protests.
The opposition called for the protests to compel the government to lower the escalating cost of living and suspend controversial tax proposals contained in the Finance Bill, 2023, now an Act after Parliament endorsed its enactment.
Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta's security was also withdrawn at both her Muthaiga and Gatundu homes.
Governors Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochilo Ayacko (Migori) and Siaya's James Orengo also had their security redeployed.
On Saturday, Ruto signalled an end to the protests saying he had met with Raila and reached a consensus that the opposition would not call for mass action again.
"Recently, I spoke with opposition leader and other opposition leaders and told them that we are a democratic country and respect the Constitution and rule of law....there will never be a leader - present, past or future - who will plan chaos. That will not happen again," he said.
"All the other things we can talk about but we are not going to negotiate about the safety of Kenyans."
But as the President spoke in Kwale, Azimio said their right to exercise freedom of assembly was non-negotiable.
They made the remarks while disowning a statement by Kenya Kwanza whose contents indicated they had agreed to discussions over five key issues which they said they had nothing to do with.
"Until we agree that each party has the freedom and right to bring its issues to the table and as we continue to pursue discussion, we shall continue with our engagements with the people," they said.
"That right is in our Constitution, it has no basis for any discussion. We will continue exercising our constitutional rights of association, of expression (and) of assembly, we are not going to negotiate that with anyone."