Opposition demos are slowly picking up in isolated parts of the country with Azimio leader Raila Odinga promising to give a list of products to be boycotted as he scales up his political war with President William Ruto.
The ODM boss said a number of companies are being misused by Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and must be shunned by opposition supporters.
“There are many companies being misused and next week we will unveil list of products to be boycotted,” Raila said.
On Friday—a day after Raila called his supporters to action—a handful of protesters took to the streets in Kisumu and Vihiga counties to express their displeasure with government's ‘inaction’ on prices of basic commodities.
The Friday processions are a build up to March 20, a major protest to be held in Nairobi.
As Kisumu and Vihiga took to the streets, Raila was leading an Azimio People Baraza in Migori which he likened to the biblical last supper.
“This is like the last supper that is why we decided to come to Migori after declaring (mass action),” Raila said.
Emotionally narrating the story of Waganda—a village girl who was sacrificed so that the community receives rain —Raila said he is ready to pay the ultimate price in his political war with Ruto.
“I am the Waganda, I will go on March 20 and if I must be fed to crocodiles so that it rains, I am ready,” he said.
The demos which were largely peacefully, were in response to Raila’s mass action call made on Thursday from his Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation offices.
The Azimio multi-pronged strategy consists of defiance, protests, boycotts and peaceful sit-ins that could involve occupying strategic government offices.
In Kisumu, the backyard of the Opposition chief, the residents converged in Kondele and started matching towards the county commissioner's office chanting anti-President Ruto slogans.
Led by Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, the protestors then headed towards Kisumu State Lodge passing a number of police roadblocks which had been strategically erected to control movement in the area.
The morning procession was however with no disruption of businesses in various parts of the county.
At the County Commissioner’s office, Kisumu Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro handed over a memorandum to the Kisumu Central Assistant County Commissioner Hussein Alaso Hussein.
He said they will continue with the demos daily until March 19 ahead of the March 20 mega rally which they will all attend in Nairobi.
In the neighbouring Vihiga county, protesters poured on to the streets paralysing business in the busy Mbale and Luanda towns.
Residents armed with placards converged at Ebusakami junction marching to Luanda town.
"Ruto must go, Ruto must go, Ruto must go," hatutaki Rutooo," they chanted.
Raila also fired at Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki over his stern warning to any lawlessness during planned Azimio demonstrations.
“Kindiki don’t be misused, some of us have come from far. Whatever it is, we shall not retreat, we are marching on,” he said.
Kindiki—the man in charge with country’s security apparatus—on Thursday pledged to deal firmly with individuals who try to use freedoms guaranteed in the constitution to hurt others.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the country is ripe for revolution and asked supporters to come out in large numbers on March 20.
“We shall demonstrate unarmed, so those who are armed should not intimidate our supporters. In order to bring a true revolution it must be peaceful,” Kalonzo said.
The former Vice President hinted Azimio may resort to the cessation route as part of their grand scheme to recover the country.
Former Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa termed Kindiki’s utterances misplaced asking him to go slow on his threats. He said the planned demos are expressly provided for in the constitution.
“We have seen Kindiki spewing threats, our constitution provides for peaceful demonstrations. We have held peaceful demos, we appeal to our security officers not to be misused by Kindiki,” Wamalwa said.
“He has no right to dictate to us the manner we will enjoy the rights under freedoms. On March 20 will be a holiday, it will be a mother of all demonstrations,” added National Assembly Majority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
Siaya Senator James Orengo also faulted Kindiki for giving directives to the police saying as an independent body, police officers should not take orders from anyone.
“Kindiki you are serving under a constitution, in that constitution you are not allowed to give a direction to the police because they are an independent body,” Orengo said.
Raila and his team launched a new initiative branded Movement for Defence of Democracy, giving a 15-point attack on why Ruto must quit as President.
Some of the issues he cited necessitating his action included high cost of living, over-taxation, GMO importation, ongoing reconstitution of IEBC, electoral deceit, victimisation of four IEBC commissioners, mishandling of Azimio presidential petition by the apex court and state capture of the other arms of government.
Others are tribalism, unnecessary expansion of the Executive, religious discrimination, targeted sacking of civil servants and land grabbing amongst others.
