Nairobi Governor Sakaja calls for peace ahead of Azimio protests
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has preached for peace in Nairobi ahead of the Azimio demonstrations.
Speaking at the Pentecostal Church of East Africa (PCEA) church in Umoja on April 30, 2023, the county boss urged for a solution to the differences between President William Ruto and the Azimio team led by Raila Odinga.
This comes at a time when Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga announced that the opposition will be holding demonstrations in the city on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
“All we want in Nairobi is peace, we are a big family and we have MCAs from Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza in Nairobi who work together,” he said.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli was among those in attendance.
Sakaja, who defeated Polycarp Igathe to be named county boss, stressed that he is ready to work with leaders from all walks of life in a bid to transform Nairobi.
The governor who is serving his first term made the statement hours after Nairobi County police boss Adamson Bungei banned opposition demonstrations in the city.
Speaking at the Nairobi County police headquarters, Mr Bungei said a decision had been made that Azimio la Umoja coalition under the leadership of Raila Odinga should not hold demonstrations in the city.
“We are declining to allow Azimio to conduct demonstrations and there will be no demos in the city of Nairobi. We also assure Kenyans of their safety during tomorrow’s (Labour Day) celebrations,” he said.
Mr Bungei also said demonstrations that were held by the opposition in March 2023 were violent and the demonstrators were armed.
He said that the Public Order Act prohibits possession of weapons at any public meetings and that protesters must always be unarmed and peaceful.
“Processions that are not peaceful are prohibited-if they consist of violence or intimidation the demonstrations have to be stopped. Demonstrators must not be armed,” the Nairobi County police boss said.
Nairobi has been a hotbed of the Azimio demonstrations, which led to loss of property worth millions of shillings, injuries and deaths.
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