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Mombasa County ODM leaders together with members of civil societies have vowed to continue with the planned peaceful demonstrations that are set to happen on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
This comes even after President William Ruto and his administration vowed to thwart any attempt to hold the demos.
Mombasa County Senator Mohammed Faki said they will ensure the region remains peaceful even as he reiterated that they will take part in the demos.
“We are going to fight for our rights as Kenyans,” he said.
Faki further weighed into claims that a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders was mobilised to contain the Azimio protesters at the grassroots level.
Image: John Chesoli
He said that Kenyans have a right to demonstrate and picket if their welfare is not addressed.
The Azimio leaders also condemned the withdrawal of security attached to Azimio MPs.
“They cannot withdraw the security without giving any reason just because somebody made utterances that are against them,” he said.
“We condemn this act because we know it is unconstitutional and illegal and the government cannot be doing illegal activity.”
The senator also called upon IG Japhet Koome to intervene on the matter and ensure that there is accountability.
He said that the police are not immune to prosecution, civil and criminal liability adding that they will pursue them individually until justice is done.
“We want to tell the police they will be held personally accountable for what they are doing to Kenyans,” he said.
A section of Kenya Kwanza leaders alleged that the Azimio party leader Raila Odinga visited the region and held a meeting with the leaders from the region over the planned demos.
Faki, however, termed the claims as mere allegations.
“That is an allegation, I did not meet him. If he came as a private citizen he has every right to do so because he is a Kenyan and he can travel anywhere in this country and meet anybody he wants to meet without any restrictions or permission,” he said.
“We did not have any meetings as Azimio leaders.”
Mikindani MCA Jactone Madialo also commented on the allegations and denied receiving cash to finance the demos.
“I condemned what was said that the party leader met with MCAs and gave us Sh8 million shillings to cause demonstrations in schools. Raila is one person who loves peace and therefore he cannot bring people together to plan for demos, especially on school-going children,” he said.
Bradley Ouna said that as activists, they will be holding demos every day until the time Azimio leaders get back their security detail.
“We want to call upon all Kenyans to come out and protest because the current high cost of living is a matter that affects all Kenyans,” he said.
“The finance bill 2023 must be repealed, the government must do what Kenyans want and not what they want.”
Image: John Chesoli
James Obara Kings, a luo community elder in Mombasa said that they will not accept and keep quiet at the time when the Azimio leader is in danger.
“It should be known that in case anything happens to Raila in this country, Kenya will fall down. Therefore, the government should be very conscious whenever they take steps which are unconstitutional,” he said.
MUHURI rights defender Francis Auma said that the demos are still on and that they will begin from the GPO (Posta) area.
“We want protection from the police and this is not a favour, we want them to come out in large numbers and ensure our protests are peaceful,” he said. BY THE STAR