Inside Raila’s grand resistance plan
With the lapse of his 14-day ultimatum to the government, opposition leader Raila Odinga is today expected to launch a multi-faceted approach to his mass action plan against President William Ruto’s administration.
Part of Mr Odinga’s grand resistance plan is “civil disobedience” to compel Ruto’s government to address a number of demands, key among them the high cost of living.
In what was seen as a reaction to Mr Odinga’s threats, the government on Wednesday deployed security officers to areas around State House in Nairobi and Kisumu.
Also read: Roadblocks mounted around State House in anticipation of Raila protests
In Nairobi, at least two security officers were sent to guard roadblocks erected on several routes, including State House Road and the route between Kenya Comfort Suites and Ralph Bunche Road, while another team was stationed at State House Gate C, which is often unguarded, to control traffic.
In Kisumu, police cordoned off the road leading to the State Lodge. Jomo Kenyatta highway was also blocked from the wee hours yesterday, with motorists forced to use alternative routes.
The Nation has established that Mr Odinga has drawn an intricate plan to advance his resistance to President Ruto’s administration.
The measures that are expected to pile pressure on the government include staging sit-ins or occupation of public offices, advancing the resistance in parliament using elected leaders and continuation of nationwide rallies dubbed people’s barazas.
Also read: Raila’s nationwide protests looming large
Others are boycotting certain products from companies perceived to have backed President Ruto’s “unlawful usurpation of state power”, removal of the presidential portraits from businesses and offices in Azimio’s strongholds and street protests.
The plans, according to insiders, could be unveiled gradually depending on the government’s responsiveness to the coalition’s demands.
On Wednesday, Azimio leaders addressed journalists at Chungwa House in Nairobi as they urged Kenyans to await a declaration by Mr Odinga today on how the resistance against the Kenya Kwanza administration would be advanced. The leaders lifted the lid on the opposition’s plans to occupy public offices to demand government action to reduce the high cost of living.