On February 27, 2023, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga introduced to his supporters that they might march to the State House in 10 days.
Addressing a crowd in Kitale city, Trans Nzoia County, Raila inspired his supporters to come back out in giant numbers for the march.
“When we name you, will you come to Nairobi? Will you come? Will you come? Again, I would like you to not have concern or fear. We perceive one another very nicely, and we’ll proceed to grasp one another nicely. We will make an enormous impression, and you’ll come,” mentioned Odinga.
At the time, the previous Prime Minister had issued a 14-day ultimatum to President William Ruto’s authorities, demanding motion on the excessive price of dwelling, alleged electoral injustices from the 2022 presidential election, and the uneven distribution of state jobs. This ultimatum was set to run out on March 8, 2023.
Raila Odinga Vows to March to Statehouse
Odinga argued that President Ruto’s authorities had failed to deal with the excessive price of dwelling and labeled it as illegitimate, claiming the 2022 common elections had been carried out fraudulently.
He known as for the opening of election servers and an audit of the election outcomes by an impartial, respected agency. Consequently, Odinga known as for march to the State House together with his supporters to current their grievances to the President.
Odinga was additionally pissed off by President Ruto’s appointment of a number of Cabinet Administrative Secretaries (CAS), arguing that this created an pointless burden on taxpayers who had been already going through larger taxes.
“We state categorically that this isn’t the time to create workplaces and positions for Kenya Kwanza political rejects and crooks,” Raila said.
His sentiments had been echoed by his co-principals within the Azimio coalition, Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka.
Martha Karua said that Kenyans have the suitable to march to the State House, offered that they might do it peacefully.
“And there are solely 10 days left, not 20, and so they should know that Kenyans have the facility to do that peacefully. We love our nation and don’t wish to hurt individuals, however each Kenyan should obtain their rights,” mentioned Karua.
On his half, Kalonzo Musyoka said that the protests can be peaceable.
Government Thwarts Azimio’s Leader’s plan to March to Statehouse
However, on March 20, 2023, the date Odinga and his supporters had been presupposed to march to the State House, the federal government’s plans thwarted their efforts.
A heavy contingent of cops was deployed in Nairobi, significantly round key areas just like the Central Business District (CBD) and routes resulting in the State House. Anti-riot police and General Service Unit (GSU) officers had been stationed to dam protesters from advancing towards the extremely secured authorities set up.
Tear gasoline and water cannons had been used to disperse crowds in Nairobi’s CBD and different areas the place Azimio supporters gathered, stopping them from organizing a cohesive march towards the State House.
Major roads resulting in the State House, resembling State House Road and Dennis Pritt Road, had been barricaded by police, and safety checkpoints had been established to limit entry.
However, Raila Odinga’s protests finally led to the formation of the National Dialogue Committee and the creation of the NADCO report.
The depth of the protests and the unrest skilled inside different elements of the nation pressured the federal government into bipartisan talks, which produced the report as a framework to deal with the opposition’s calls for regarding electoral justice, governance, and socioeconomic points.
