Azimio demos: Raila alleges ássássination attempt, claims his cár was shot at 7 times

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 30 Mar, 2023 20:06 | 2 mins read
Azimio demos: Raila alleges ássássination attempt, claims his cár was shot at 7 times
Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga. PHOTO/Courtesy

Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga now claims there was an attempt on his life during the opposition's anti-government protests in Nairobi on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Speaking to the media in Karen moments after the opposition concluded their protests on Thursday evening, Raila said his car was shot at seven times with live bullets in what he believes was an attempt to assassinate him.

While faulting the police for blocking peaceful protests, the former prime minister accused President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration of taking the country back to pre-colonial times.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible what has happened today. Today is a very sad day in the history of this country. This shows that we’re degenerating into the colonial stage, where lives of Africans did not matter at all, because there’s no reason why police should use this kind of force against unarmed citizens who are merely exercising their democratic rights,” Raila said.

He accused the international community of turning a blind eye to police brutality during the opposition's protests pushing for economic and electoral reforms in the country.

"My own car was hit seven times with live bullets, and the direction of the bullets were all aimed at me. These people have been threatening and blackmailing us, unfortunately the friends of this country are not helping," he stated.

"Look at the statement released by some ambassador based here, you would think that they live in a different country; they’re actually adding fuel to this conflict, instead of being independent and neutral arbiters.”

He also condemned attacks targeted at journalists during the Thursday demos, where at least four members of the press were hospitalised after allegedly being brutalised by goons and anti-riot officers.

NTV's Senior Cameraman Eric Isinta was injured in the face after being hit with a tear gas canister during the protests in Nairobi.

He also alleged a plot by senior government officials to invade the private property of former President Uhuru Kenyatta's family for the second time after a similar attack last Monday.

“It is very unfortunate that in the whole of these skirmishes, the media is being targeted for attack. The other day and today, several journalists have been injured,” Raila said.

“We also had information that they were planning to attack Uhuru’s farm, business, and residences.”

For the second week, Azimio leaders were unable to access Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) for weekly protests against the government.

The leaders, however, managed to address roadside crowds in Embakasi South despite the heavy deployment of police officers in the region.

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