Azimio cautions supporters against dressing in party colours during protests
The Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party has warned their supporters to be wary of impostors who may cause violence during Monday’s protests.
According to Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, the coalition has information that their opponents have illegally obtained Jubilee and Azimio T-shirts and other materials in order to impersonate their party members.
“This evening I have been made aware of a devious plot by our opponents and detractors to dress up some characters in Jubilee Party attire and merchandise, with the intention to use these persons to disrupt peace and cause chaos during the People’s mass action,” Kioni said in the statement.
“In light of this, I wish to give guidance as follows: Please note that this is a march by Kenyans not a Jubilee Party event, as such none of our members and supporters attending the march tomorrow should dress up in Jubilee Party attire or colours,” he added.
The ODM party on Twitter echoed the message and urged their supporters to remain peaceful and exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate against the “illegitimate regime” of President William Ruto.
“Kenyans will hold peaceful demonstrations tomorrow. It is a constitutional right. The illegitimate regime has acquired shirts with ODM/Azimio colours to be worn by their hired goons to cause mayhem. We want to warn them that, no one from our side will wear party colours,” the statement read.
The coalition urged its supporters to turn out in large numbers for the March 20 demonstrations, dubbed the “mother of all protests” and expected to bring the country to a halt.
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga provided six justifications. These include President Ruto’s refusal to allow an audit of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers, the high cost of living after the government eliminated subsidies, nepotism in the Kenya administration, failure to consult other stakeholders in the reconstitution of the IEBC, broken promises, and an illegitimate government.