Opiyo Wandayi, minority leader in the National Assembly, has warned the Kenya Kwanza government to brace itself for serious and unstoppable public action following the Kamukunji gathering on Tuesday.
Wandayi, speaking at the ODM party delegate conference in Nyatike Sub County on Monday, said the Azimio team would launch a significant mass action that may continue for a while.
"We want to embark on a new journey at Kamukunji… a lot has been said, but where we have reached now, we must seek direction from the people. The journey that is beginning at Kamukunji may be unstoppable. Depending on what the people will tell us, it will change the politics of this country," said the minority leader.
He stated they could not stand by and watch Kenyans suffer due to the government's heavy taxing. He said Kenyans will oppose the government's plan to raise taxes on them.
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His sentiments were mirrored by ODM party chairman John Mbadi, who stated that overtaxing individuals would not assist the Kenya Kwanza administration in raising funds for development.
Mbadi stated that the Kenya Kwanza government is taking civil servants' salaries and trading on dangerous grounds because no economy can grow by overtaxing its citizens.
The two urged ODM grassroots leaders to keep the party strong to remain the country's strongest party.
The Azimio la Umoja group is holding a public Baraza today at Kamukunji grounds. The demonstration is in response to the recently passed Finance Bill 2023, which President Ruto signed into law on Monday.
President Ruto, on the other hand, has warned the opposition against their plans to hold protests saying that he will be very hard on them.
“Hawa watu wananijaribu, nitawakalia ngumu. Kenya sio ya watu wachache, Kenya ni yetu sisi sote. Nilieleza jana tuko na mpango ya kureduce cost of living," he said. ("These people who are trying to test me, I will be very hard on them. Kenya does not belong to a few people. It is for all of us. We have plans in place to reduce the cost of living.")
