Heavy police presence as Raila Odinga led Azimio team heads to Kamkunji
Opposition leader Raila Odinga will today, December 7, 2022, lead a rally at Kamkunji grounds in Nairobi County as the police assured the team that they will provide adequate security.
The National Police Service (NPS) assured the Azimio Coalition which is led by Mr Odinga and Narc leader Ms Martha Karua who was his running mate in the 2022 General elections that there will be a heavy presence of police officers in the rallies that kick off today.
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The Azimio team announced that the rallies were in protest of the suspension of IEBC officials include; former IEBC Vice Chairperson Ms Juliana Cherera who resigned, Mr Justus Nyang’aya who as well resigned, Mr Francis Wanderi and Ms Irene Masit.
“In respect of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 under Article 37 which provides that every person has the right to a peaceful gathering, demonstration and picketing, the law further provides under Article 33(3) of the Constitution in exercising the freedom of expression, every person shall respect the right of others,” the statement by the NPS read in part.
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It said that it was in that regard that officers will be deployed to the venue in order to ensure that law and order is maintained.
However, NPS cautioned that any breach of the peace shall “be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
In what is seen as reading from the same script as in 2018 which led to a handshake between Mr Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Odinga has announced a series of rallies in the country in the next 30 days.
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Over the weekend, Mr Odinga also announced that they will also on December 12, 2022, hold parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations at Jacaranda Gardens in Nairobi County.
The Azimio team said that the rally will be purely peaceful and he did not see a need of having the presence of police officers at the venue.
It is worth noting that President Dr William Ruto and Mr Odinga have engaged in a war of words for the last few weeks on various social media platforms.
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