Raila Odinga Speaks Ahead of June 25 Demos, Says Kenyans Have Right to Protest: "Don't Stop People"
- Raila Odinga defended Kenyans’ right to protest as the country braces for June 25 demos marking a year since police killed demonstrators
- Speaking in Mombasa, Raila urged the government to respect constitutional rights and allow peaceful protests under police protection
- The ODM leader recalled how young people took charge of last year’s protests, accusing the state of using deadly force instead of dialogue
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
As the country prepares for the June 25 demonstrations, Raila Odinga has strongly defended Kenyans' constitutional right to protest, calling on the government and police to act responsibly and respect the law.
Source: Twitter
The ODM party leader, speaking in Mombasa county, said the planned protests would commemorate the lives lost during last year’s demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024.
Raila stressed that Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to assemble, picket, and present petitions to public authorities, as long as they do so peacefully and unarmed.
He pointed out that those intending to demonstrate only needed to notify the authorities in advance, including sharing details such as the starting point, route, end location and time.
“The police should guard the protestors, not attack them. Their role is to ensure peace and protect property,” he said.
To support his argument, Raila referenced peaceful protests witnessed in countries such as the United States, where police provided security and maintained order without violence.
What did Raila say about June 25 demos?
Raila urged law enforcement officers to rebuild trust with the public, warning that attempts to suppress demonstrations would be futile.
“We cannot criminalise protests. They are bound to happen whenever citizens feel aggrieved. What matters is how they are conducted,” he said.
He also appealed for civility, stating that demonstrations should not be used to destabilise the country’s economy.
“Even tomorrow, no one should stop people from coming out. If they want to demonstrate, let them do so. It is their right,” Raila added.
Source: AFP
Looking back at the protests of 2024, Raila shared how young people told him to stay out of the demonstrations, insisting they would lead the charge themselves.
“They told me I had done enough and should stay home. I did. The youths flooded the streets, protesting the high cost of living and the Finance Bill,” he recalled.
The veteran politician expressed sorrow over the brutal police response, saying some protestors were shot dead before the Kenya Defence Forces were deployed.
“Kenya was burning. Ruto was forced to drop the Finance Bill and make changes to his government. I stood for justice and called for talks, but others refused,” he said.
Raila lamented that promises made after the protests, such as compensating families who lost loved ones, were still unfulfilled, and that had sparked another wave of demonstrations now scheduled for June 25.
Are foreign missions backing Gen Z protests?
In a related development, twelve foreign missions, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, cautioned the Kenyan government ahead of the planned June 25 demonstrations.
The diplomats urged President William Ruto’s administration to allow the commemorative protests to proceed peacefully, as Kenyans prepare to honour youths killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
The envoys issued a joint statement warning against the deployment of plainclothes police officers and unmarked vehicles during the protests.
What did MP Koech say about the diplomats' joint statement?
Belgut MP Nelson Koech took issue with the language and tone used by the envoys, arguing it portrayed them as biased and partisan.
The lawmaker, who doubles as the chair of the National Assembly's Security, Foreign Relations and Intelligence committee, claimed the use of "hired goons" in the statement issued by the diplomats was a clear indication that they were not impartial.
He insinuated that the envoys were meddling in the internal affairs of the country in total disregard of its independence and sovereignty.
Although he acknowledged some of the concerns raised by the diplomats in their joint statement, Koech allayed fears that there would be human rights violations during the protests, arguing Kenya has a progressive constitution that guides how the state interacts with the public.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen shared the same views, insisting that the police will be professional during the protests.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
