Jubilee Party will join Azimio protests if asked by Raila – SG Kioni
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni now says if required, the party members will join the public rallies scheduled by Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga.
Kioni said on Monday, December 5, that the Jubilee party, along with other Azimio coalition parties, are awaiting a directive from Odinga on the terms of the meeting.
“If it is a rally that we will need to attend as members of the opposition then we will attend. I am sure we will get communication from Raila Odinga,” he said during an interview with Spice FM.
“I will reach out to him so that we get into the details of when is the rally meeting and what is the plan.”
On Saturday, December 3, Kioni announced that the former ruling party would not participate in Odinga’s demonstrations, which are set to commence on Wednesday, December 7, at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi.
Parties affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja Coalition are waiting for further information on the rally, although KANU has also withdrawn from the scheduled protests.
Simultaneously, Kioni praised Raila’s intention to mobilise opposition to Ruto’s administration, stating that protesting is a critical tool available to the opposition, which Raila is effectively using.
“Protesting is a tool that is available to the opposition and they should use it when they think it is appropriate. It is also provided for in the constitution,” he said.
He urged the government to “listen to the issues” being raised by the opposition, instead of what he termed as being arrogant.
“The government should not say that they are ready for the protesting, that is being arrogant,” he noted.
Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader, has called his followers to a gathering on December 7 at Kamukunji Grounds to discuss how to hold the Kenya Kwanza government accountable.
“We will return to the same venue on December 12th, to continue with these consultations on the state of our nation,” he added.
Raila said that the Ruto government had seized control of the judiciary and that the criminal system had failed.
The former prime minister stated that it was the reason for the recent wave of high-profile case withdrawals.
He also announced nationwide protests against the plan to fire four IEBC members who contested the 2022 presidential election results.
He said, Azimio will hold their first rally at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi before proceeding to Mombasa, then Nakuru and Kakamega counties.
President William Ruto has directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to provide security to the opposition during their protests.