Raila blamed for failing to address losses businesses suffered during protests
A section of Members of County Assembly in Nairobi drawn from the UDA party have blamed Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition leaders of failure to acknowledge the huge losses traders and businesspeople incurred during the recent anti-government protests.
Addressing the media at City Hall on Thursday, Minority Leader Anthony Karanja Kiragu, Minority Whip Mark Mugambi Ronaldo and Brian Itenya took issue with the fact that Azimio principals, led by Mr Raila Odinga, only visited families of victims but failed to visit traders whose property was destroyed.
The MCA said while the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to picket, it should be done in a peaceful manner.
“We are waiting for them to also visit those whose businesses were disrupted by the protest and those whose properties were destroyed,” Mr Kiragu said.
Also read: MCA foils private developer’s attempt to grab Kimathi Primary School land
Mr Kiragu cited Eastmatt Supermarket in Kitengela which was looted during the demonstrations, saying the owner needs to be compensated.
The MCA said the case of the house of Chief Officer in Bondo, which was set ablaze, also ought to have been addressed by the Azimio leaders.
“We are waiting for them to tell us whether the maadamano was really about the cost of unga, whether it was really about the elections,” he said.
The MCAs also challenged Azimio la Umoja to address the harm that was visited upon some of police officers during the demonstrators.
On Wednesday, Azimio leaders visited some of the people who were injured during the demonstrations and are receiving treatment at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Also read: Nairobi MCAs boycott session, protest over delayed allowances
Despite of reports of police brutality on protesters, the MCAs lauded the police and asked them to be firm during such demonstrations.
“We want to ask them when they will talk about 166 cars belonging to the police which were destroyed. We want them to answer Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) when they tell us that we are losing Sh3 billion a day,” Mr Kiragu said.
Further, the Minority Leader said democracy is facing challenges in the country as a result of the violence and disputes that are witnessed after every election.
On his part, Mr Mugambi challenged Azimio la Umoja leaders to tell their supporters the truth on exactly what their agenda is.
“It is the high time we kept hypocrisy aside… how do you dispute a single election out of the six which were held on the same time?” he posed.