D-Day as March 20 Maandamano kicks off (Live blog)
12: 58 PM: DP Rigathi asked Azimio brass t “Ask your children to be at the forefront. It’s not right or fair to ask children of Kenyans to go to the streets while yours are in another country enjoying the perks.”
12:57 PM: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Mombasa received food donations from WFP at the Grain Bulk Handlers Limited. He said, “It’s not good for business and the economy. Call off the mayhem and chaos to enable Kenyans to go back to work”
12:44 PM: Minority Whip Junet Mohamed says today’s protests are just a rehearsal, and promises more to come later.
12:19 PM: Pedestrians flee Kimathi street as police lob teargas canisters
12:11 PM: Police arrest former Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Joel Kairu and Nakuru ODM chairman Benard Miruka.
12:05 PM: Shops remain closed in CBD as protestors and police engage in running battles in several parts of the city.
10:53:AM: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna among other Nairobi Azimio leaders join protesters in CBD; police use tear gas to disperse them immediately.
Also read: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna: ‘The journey to liberation has started!’
10:39AM: Still no word on where Azimio leader Raila Odinga is as of 10.25 am, insiders are still tight-lipped regarding his whereabouts.
10: 34 AM: Police use tear gas to disperse protesters in Nairobi CBD.
10:07AM: Tight security along State House Crescent road on March 20, 2023
Also read: State House, the most secure building in Kenya, today
9:50AM: Running battles as police disperse youth at City Mortuary roundabout.
9:46am Azimio leaders were barred from accessing KICC; police teargas supporters accompanied them.
9:44AM: Police and protesters clash on Ngong Road in Nairobi.
9:35AM: Reports have it that police and protestors are already clashing Ngong Road and Ring Road, Kilimani in Nairobi.
8:35AM: Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei and former deputy president aspirant Justina Wamae clash over Azimio’s March 20 Maandamano.
Senator Kiprotich Arap Cherargei: “Today is working day in the entire country & peaceful except luo nyanza & kibera . Kenyans are going about their normal duties across the country. Tinga Waterloo is today he will be relegated to political oblivion
Coz He can’t hold the country hostage forever!.”
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance politicians, led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, are set to take to the streets in what they term will be a peaceful demonstration against President William Samoei Ruto’s government as well as the high cost of living in Kenya.
Nairobi News previously reported that Raila Odinga issued three conditions to the President, which were the opening of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission computer servers which he said would reveal that he won the August 9 presidential election and not President Ruto.
Also read: Staying safe during demonstrations: 5 essential tips to follow
Additionally, Raila Odinga demanded that the President lower the cost of living in the country after several basic needs, like food, had price hikes placed on them.
Lastly, Raila Odinga demanded that the process of appointing new IEBC Commissioners to replace those who dissented against President Ruto’s victory be stopped. Raila said that if this condition was met, he would step back from the other conditions and give dialogue between them an opportunity.
Using the #Maandamano, follow our live updates as D-Day Maandamao by Azimio kicks off across the country:
12AM: Raila Odinga tells Kenyans he is not interested in their demographics but their happiness. He also calls on Kenyans to awaken and fight against bloodthirsty regimes as a people whose destiny cannot be intimidated by threats and intimidation.
“In a matter of hours, we begin taking over our country and our destiny,” Raila Odinga said in his statement.
Also read: How #maandamano propelled Raila to power, leaving Ruto on the edge
7AM: Images emerge online showing deserted Nairobi Central Business District streets, and several businesses shut down as law enforcement pours into the streets to beef up security. This is after Raila Odinga previously announced that the opposition will march to State House Nairobi from the CBD, “to regain their stolen victory.”
7:18AM: Winnie Odinga, the youngest daughter of Raila Odinga claims that their electronics have been hacked and are all unusable. Calls on all opposition supporters to meet her in the streets, “#RutoMustGo.”
7:54 AM: The Azimio camp claims that the Communications Authority, under the leadership of Ezra Chiloba “unfairly and wrongfully disabled” their leaders and team members’ phone lines in attempts to sabotage the protests.
“We call upon the Communications Authority to up step and be a regulator and not a partner in crime,” said the Azimio camp in their statement.
9:13AM: Mumias East Member of Parliament unveils his Maandamano uniform
Hehe kweli it's a public holiday don't joke with Baba it started like a joke but it's a reality raila has achieved in this game ….Let president put aside his proud and arrogant deputy na tuzungumze kama wakenya …#sakaja warned them they didn't listen sasa ona pic.twitter.com/DaoHZe20ug
— Peter K.Salasya,MP (@P_Salasya) March 20, 2023
Also read: 10 hilarious tweets by KOT about #maandamano