Raila Announces Start of Countrywide Mass Action to Push Out Ruto's Gov't

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has declared the official commencement of the countrywide mass action.

This follows the expiry of the 14-day ultimatum issued to President Ruto’s administration to fulfill a raft of Azimio demands including the lowering of the cost of living.

"We have launched a campaign of defiance of peaceful picketing, peaceful protests, boycotts, strikes, disobedience, petitions, sit-ins and peaceful demonstrations. And it begins today and now," Odinga said during a media event at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on Thursday.

The opposition coalition also announced the launch of the Movement for Defense of Democracy (MDD), an initiative to oppose the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Odinga, who was flanked by Azimio leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, insisted that the Kenya Kwanza government is illegitimate, and called upon supporters to come out and take part in the protests.

He urged all workers, doctors, teachers, nurses, lecturers, students and the business community to join in the mass action to push the Ruto-led government out.

The ODM party leader said the mass action will culminate in a final meeting in Nairobi on March 20th, where all the supporters will converge in the capital for joint protests.

“On 20th March, we have a date with destiny in Nairobi, on that day our supporters from across the country will stage peaceful protests in Nairobi against this illegitimate regime. Save the date and let the action begin now,” he added.

On his part, Kalonzo said: “We want to make good our promise to Ruto and his illegitimate regime through a massive peaceful movement of defiance against a heartless, dangerous, and incompetent illegitimate Kenya kwanza government.”

The opposition will also be protesting against overtaxation, failure to open IEBC servers, attempt by President Ruto to single-handedly appoint the IEBC selection panel, and the victimization of the four IEBC commissioners who rejected the results of the last election.

Others are tribalism in state appointments, dividing the country along religious lines and creation of unconstitutional and unnecessary offices overburdening the taxpayers.

“We are telling Ruto and Gachagua that we are indeed the true shareholders of this country and we have no more patience for an illegitimate regime,” said Raila.