The Azimio team says yesterday, they made their final pronouncement regarding the protests that have taken place today.
“We said the protests would be peaceful and in strict compliance with the Constitution. We take this early opportunity to say a big thank you to the brave and patriotic Kenyans who braved the chilly weather and the brutality of the police to exercise their constitutionally protected right to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities.”
Azimio encouraged those who showed up, and those who are yet to make up their minds, that this is a fight for timeless values of freedom, justice, and democracy, dignity and accountability.
“We had hoped that given the constitutional protection that our protests enjoy, the illegitimate Kenya Kwanza regime would allow Kenyans to express their opinion and fight for the country they love so much.” The statement read.
“That was never to be. Instead, at the break of dawn, police got stationed in all parts of Nairobi Metropolis and the city Centre to prevent us from proceeding with our protests as we had planned.”
“And it was not only the police who were unleashed. As we had earlier warned, hooligans hired by the Kenya Kwanza regime were unleashed to cause mayhem and destroy property and blame it on our peaceful protests.”
According to Azimio, the hooligans, are they aware are acting under the command of Mr. Rigathi Gachagua and Moses Kuria, and were identified and recruited at a meeting in Thika a few days ago, then ferried to Nairobi last night.
“They have beaten up innocent citizens going about their normal activities, stoned motorists and burnt vehicles in vain attempt to make the prophesies of Kenya Kwanza come true. Kenya is the loser in all this.”
“Unfortunately, because of the mayhem, we were not able to present critical petitions to four offices as we had planned. As we said yesterday, we intended to present a petition to the IEBC showing that the results it announced last August were doctored and demand an audit of the servers.”
We also intended to petition against the sacking of the four commissioners. The sacking presents a dangerous precedent in which in all future elections, all commissioners will be expected to agree with the chairperson of IEBC, effectively making election a one person show.
“We also intended to petition the Office of the President with evidence that the cost of food, fuel, electricity and fees remain unacceptably high.”
Further, Azimio says they wanted to petition that office to desist from destroying political parties.BThe third office we were to visit is the National Treasury.
“We wanted to petition for the immediate release of all funds owed to counties and for the tinmely payment of salaries to all civil servants.”
“The fourth office we were to visit is the Public Service Commission where we planned to demand that appointments to public offices be done purely on the basis of merit and inclusivity, not tribe as is presently the case.”
Azimio detailed that they strongly feel that it is immoral and criminal that in a country of close to 50 tribes, appointments go only to members of one tribe.
“Unfortunately, our members of parliament who were on their way to the Office of the president to begin the presenting of the petitions, were not allowed to access the public office.”
“Despite being peaceful and unarmed, they were met with teargas and gunshots. We know why we could not be allowed to present a petition to OP on cost of food.”
Azimio further added that there has been an attempt by Kenya Kwanza to mislead people that the cost of unga has come down. “The truth is that it has not and we wanted to prove it. We also wish to let Kenyans know that the new unga brands that are retailing at slightly lower prices that older familiar brands are GMO maize.”
Azimio claims that a number of millers have declined to mill that maize and sell it to Kenyans as a matter of principle.
“It is incumbent on the Kenya Kwanza regime to be honest with Kenyans, tell them the truth and let them have a choice.”
“Kenyans must not be made to consume GMO products without being told and offered a choice. We said it yesterday and we will say it again today. Mr. William Ruto and his illegitimate regime are making serious attempts to suspend our hard-won constitution.”
“Instead of the free and democratic nation that the 2010 constitution sought to bequeath us,” Azimio continued, “Ruto is trying to re-invent the
police state of the 1980s, the Kenya of Special Branch, plain clothes officers and terror machine.”
Azimio laments that last night, all Azimio leaders, including former Prime Minister RT. Hon.Raila Odinga and former Vice President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka had their security withdrawn. All members of parliament who actively support this cause have also had their security withdrawn.”
“They are suspending the constitution and engaging in intimidation and blackmail. They are setting the stage for assassinations.’
