Maandamano lazima, Raila Odinga declares Monday, 20th March a public holiday

 

ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

Head of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Party, Raila Odinga, has proclaimed March 20, 2023, a national public holiday so that Kenyans may take part in organized protests.

The Azimio Chief told his followers in Siaya County on Tuesday that Kenyans should take part in the next nationwide social revolution. The goal of this revolution is to put pressure on the government to lower living costs.

He said the protests would not be violent and asked protesters to act in a civilized way.

"Violence and carnage of any type are not what we seek. It will be calm, and I've already said that we don't want to shake hands. We are only carrying out this action because it is our only available option," he stated.

"On behalf of the Azimio One Kenya Alliance, we declare that March 20 will be a holiday."

The former prime minister made the proclamation in response to Martha Karua, leader of the Narc Kenya Party, who begged him to do so to allow all active Azimio supporters to take part in the demonstrations.

In order for us to do this task, she added, "I am asking Raila to make that day a public holiday." "Election manipulation must end; we cannot continue to have it every year."

"The electorate must exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to guarantee that they give the person they picked the chance to become the nation's leader. Join the protest so we can rescue this country. Kenyans are the target of this battle," said Karua.

Odinga turned down requests from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) to stop the protests because the Kenya Kwanza government had ignored his plan to lower the cost of living.

"Through the NCCK, a group of clerics have contacted me."

"In response, I'm telling them that the people of Azimio have decided to hold a protest because our ultimatum was completely ignored," noted Odinga.

Even though Odinga said it, the Kenyan Constitution says that only the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior can declare a public holiday.