Martha Karua, a co-principal in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, referred to President William Ruto's administration as an "illegitimate regime" built on flimsy democratic principles.
Karua claimed that since President Ruto took office in September 2022, the Kenya Kwanza administration has been "merciless, thoughtless, and authoritarian" in a speech delivered on Thursday at the opening of the Movement for Defense of Democracy (MDD), which opposition leader Raila Odinga leads.
"The August 2022 elections handed our nation an illegitimate, heedless, and autocratic dictatorship," declared Karua.
Karua claims that since Ruto came to power, his government has started enacting policies that have resulted in many Kenyans being unable to afford the price of essential goods and services.
"This illegal dictatorship ruthlessly eliminated subsidies for food, unga, electricity, gasoline, fuel, and paraffin, raising the cost of bus transportation. It ended the school fee subsidies and made living intolerable "Karua remarked.
"Instead, Ruto has started a significant propaganda offensive against the program of subsidies, which was designed to protect the lives of millions of Kenyans from the harsh economic realities. This is taking place at a time when almost every country on the planet has announced interventions to protect its citizens from economic decline."
Karua stated that the head of state has yet to respond to or comply with the demands, despite the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition giving President William Ruto a 14-day deadline to address the difficult economic situation in Kenya before Azimio takes action.
"We argued for the restoration of all subsidies for essential goods and the reduction of taxes two weeks ago at Jeevanjee Gardens. We also asserted that the IEBC's dissolution and reformation processes must come to a total halt because they were intended to establish a William Ruto Commission "She spoke.
We stated that if these demands are not satisfied, we will mobilize Kenyans to defend our democracy and reclaim peoples' power, choice, and sovereignty.
The leader of the Wiper Party, Kalonzo Musyoka, echoed Karua's sentiments when he said that President Ruto's alleged inaction following Article 37 of the constitution, which guarantees everyone the right to peacefully assemble, demonstrate, and submit petitions to public authorities, left Azimio with no choice but to start the Movement for Defense of Democracy (MDD).
"We are using these constitutional protections to create a vast, nonviolent movement of rebellion against the unjust, careless, callous, and inept Kenya Kwanza dictatorship. Because Kenya Kwanza is unable to hear the screams of our people, we started the MDD "Musyoka added.
"Now, the people are reclaiming all of their previously granted authority. This is the moment for action. After thorough and wide-ranging public consultation, we have issued the much expected directives, pursuant to the constitutional provisions that grant the people the authority and right to peacefully assemble."
