To let Kenyans participate in planned protests, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Party leader Raila Odinga has proclaimed Monday, March 20, 2023, a public holiday.
Tuesday, the Azimio Chief addressed his followers in Siaya County and urged Kenyans to participate in the planned nationwide mass movement to pressure the government to reduce living expenses.
He predicted that the protests would be peaceful and advised participants to behave in a civilized way.
He added, "We are just doing this because it is our only alternative. We do not want any violence or carnage. It will be nonviolent, and I have also indicated that we do not wish to have any handshake.
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"We declare that March 20 shall be a holiday in the name of Azimio One Kenya Alliance. The former premier announced in response to a request from Martha Karua, leader of the Narc Kenya Party, that all employed supporters of Azimio may participate in the demonstrations".
"I am asking Raila to declare that day a public holiday so that we may finish this work, she had remarked. Election tampering must end; we cannot keep doing it annually".
"The people must exercise their power under the Constitution to ensure that they permit the person they chose to lead the nation. Let's join the demonstration to defend this country. For the sake of the Kenyan people, "Karua continued.
As a result, Odinga rejected requests from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), who he said asked him to delay the protests, claiming that the Kenya Kwanza government had disregarded his plea for lower living expenses.
"Through the NCCK, a number of clerics have contacted me. I want to respond by telling them that after our ultimatum was utterly disregarded, the residents of Azimio decided that a demonstration was necessary "Odinga observed.
The Kenyan Constitution only permits the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior to establish a public holiday, despite Odinga's declaration.
