Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured Kenyans that adequate security measures have been made to protect Kenyans and their properties against planned Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition protests.
Speaking during an alumni event at his former school, Kianyaga Boys' High School, Gachagua insisted that Azimio leader Raila Odinga lost fairly during the 2022 General elections, and there was no need to picket.
"I want to assure the people of Kenya that adequate arrangements have been made in accordance with the laws of Kenya to protect life and property on Monday. And we ask the people of Kenya to go about their businesses unhindered," Gachagua said.
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Gachagua accused Raila and the Azimio of planning to sabotage the economy through picketing, which would lead to the destruction of property.
"These people who are sponsoring this mzee (Raila Odinga) should stop living in denial. This mzee lost and there is nothing they can do. It is a script for the last four elections... This time round it cannot work," Gachagua said.
Raila on opposing Ruto, Gachagua
This comes days after Raila alleged that he was under pressure to call off the demonstrations slated for Monday, March 20, 2023. Raila, speaking on Thursday in Nakuru, maintained that he will not be intimidated to call off the countrywide protests.
“We cannot be intimidated by William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua. I want to tell them that I fought for the second liberation in this country. The two cannot understand what I have gone through. I was arrested, charged in court and went to prison in 1983 but was discharged for lack of evidence. I have been fighting for democracy and was put in detention for eight years when some of them were still breastfeeding,” Raila said.
“The lion (Moi) was dreaded but we uprooted its teeth. I am ready and prepared to pay the ultimate price while fighting for the liberation of Kenya,” he added.
Raila has listed six reasons for the demos slated for Monday, including President Ruto refusal to allow the audit of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers and the high cost of living.
Other reasons include nepotism in the current administration, lack of consultations in the reconstitution of IEBC, broken promises and an illegitimate government.
