David Murathe: I’ll receive Raila at JKIA and attend maandamano
The Wednesday fracas at the headquarters of the former ruling Jubilee Party seemed to have been a wake-up call to party officials who had taken back seats in Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition activities.
The party vice chairperson Mr David Murathe, who has bee missing in active politics, since Azimio’s loss in last year’s General Election has resurfaced on the party’s front row seats.
In his interview with NTV on Wednesday night, Mr Murathe said his first order of business will be to receive Azimio leader Mr Raila Odinga at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) when he returns to the country on Friday.
Mr Murathe also said he will attend Azimio’s planned protests beginning next week.
“I’ll be in maandamano and I’ll be at the airport to receive Raila Odinga on Friday,” Mr Murathe said.
Also read: I’m bringing free parking weekends, Sakaja promises Nairobians
He also said some of the party leaders have been actively supporting maandamano without participating in the street protests.
Mr Murathe further faulted the President William Ruto’s administration for the flopped bipartisan talks between Azimio and the government.
As a result, Azimio’s leadership has issued a notice of resuming to street protests beginning Tuesday next week. Mr Murathe also said Azimio will push for all-inclusive talks, and not only being a Parliament affair.
According to Azimio executive Council chairperson Mr Wycliffe Opranya, Tuesday maandamano will be consolidated in Nairobi CBD streets.
Also read: Here are President Ruto’s fresh promises to Kenyans
The former Kakamega governor informed Nairobi Central Police OCS about their protest, asking them to provide security on the day of the planned protests.
On Jubilee Party power wrangles, Mr Murathe claimed a group allied to EALA MP Kanini Kega have been plotting to use illegal mechanisms to take over the party.
“They besieged and barricaded the secretary-general inside. The secretary-general actually had to block the gate from inside with his car and when they could not access they started using stones,” Mr Murathe said.
The move saw the suspended secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni calling the former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who stormed the party headquarters to quell the situation.
Also read: Badge subscription – Riggy G’s Twitter grey verification restored