Azimio leader Raila Odinga terms the government's decision to deploy military in northern Kenya as unconstitutional.

PHOTO | COURTESY Raila Odinga

The government ordered the kenya defence forces to be introduced to the northern part of the country to curb bandit violence rampant in the region. President william Ruto instructed Interior cs kithure kindiki to build a camp in the volatile region until he resolved the matter of bandit attacks.

On Thursday, Odinga addressed the press outside the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi, accusing the government of not following the rule of law and constitutionalism. Mr Odinga referred to the recent decision to deploy the military in northern areas of the country plagued by banditry, claiming that the president acted illegally and without the consent of parliament, as required by law.

In his speech, Raila said that the decision to send the KDF to the north was made without parliament's consent, hence terming the move as unconstitutional, adding that the constitution of kenya is clear that nobody can deploy the military without the authority of parliament.

Kiture Kindiki, the interior cs, however, defended this move to deploy KDF as constitutional because it was a police operation done with the assistance of the military and not wholly a kenya defence force affair.

PHOTO | COURTESY Raila Odinga

At the same time, the Azimio Chief accused President Ruto's regime of weaponizing State machinery, citing a raid on the home of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday. Odinga asserted that the Head of the state was eager to punish those who opposed his rule.

The former prime minister wants president William ruto to focus on the current issues affecting the country, such as drought, hunger and the collapsing economy, instead of engaging in revenge politics.

Odinga continues to profess his support for the former interior cs fred matiangi, terming the recent events as a witch hunt by the azimio administration.