Editor's Review

“We will not be cowed by this act, we don’t even have to bring people to the streets."

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga now says he will not ask his supporters to come out to the streets during anti-government protests in a move to stop police brutality on demonstrators.  

Speaking on Friday, August 11 during the requiem mass for the victims of anti-government demonstrations in Bondo, Siaya County, Raila said the Azimio coalition will ask its supporters to stay at home as a form of protesting against the Kenya Kwanza government. 

“We will not be cowed by this act, we don’t even have to bring people to the streets. We can tell people to stay home as another way of expressing dissatisfaction. In fact, next time we will not tell people to come to the streets, we will them to stay in their homes and not to come outside,” said Raila.

Raila on Saturday, August 6 gave the Kenya Kwanza government an ultimatum of thirty days to address the issues the Azimio coalition has tabled in the fresh bipartisan talks.

File image of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga.

He noted that the opposition is open to negotiating with the government but will not settle for anything less than what they are demanding.

"I have said that we, as Azimio, are ready to talk. We will talk and give Kenya Kwanza thirty days to engage. If they remain unyielding, after thirty days, I will issue another order. However, we have given the team led by Kalonzo Musyoka permission to negotiate with those from the other side,” said Raila.

He added, “We are engaging them without conditions; similarly, they should not impose conditions on us. But if they are not willing to engage and agree with us as we desire, then we are stating that after thirty days, Kenyans will take different actions."