Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio One Kenya Coalition, has called on his supporters to take to the streets in protest against President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking at a memorial service for the late Chairman of the Luo Council of elders Mr Opiyo Otondi in Nyahera, Kisumu County, Mr Odinga accused a section of elected leaders from Nyanza of supporting a regime that is not sympathetic to the suffering of Kenyans.
He also criticized Kenya Kwanza for not being sincere in bi-partisan talks aimed at solving various issues raised by the opposition. “Out of good heart, we had agreed to sit with them (Kenya Kwanza) but they are not sincere,” said Mr Odinga. “That is why we have resorted to go back to the streets to protest the government policies that are overburdening Kenyans.” He maintained that no amount of persuasion would convince them to resume talks with President Ruto’s team and instructed his members to vote against the Bill and not accept intimidation.
Mr Odinga continued his verbal attack on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying his sentiments describing Kenya as a company with shareholders was only pushing a dangerous narrative of discrimination. “The deputy leader of the Kenya Kwanza regime has been prophesying a theory that Kenya is a corporation.
If some Kenyans do not have shares in government, why do you collect taxes from them?.
Every Kenyan citizen has equal rights and we will not accept this sort of discrimination classifying some people as second-class citizens,” said Mr Odinga.
His sentiments were supported by Minority Leader in the National Assembly Mr Opiyo Wandayi who indicated that their stand against the proposed Finance Bill was for the benefit of the people and they won’t allow it. “On the issue of finance bill, the government either withdraws it or we reject it.
If they push it through by force, we will go back to the streets,” said Mr Wandayi.
Mr Odinga also spoke about preserving the Luo culture among young people and pointed out that he wants the Council of Elders to lead the move. “Language is not culture.
These young people speak English but do not understand the English culture.
We must preserve our culture as a people,” said Mr Odinga.
He indicated that on June 30 and July 1, there will be a Luo cultural festival in Homabay, with discourses from various genres of Luo music as well as games to celebrate the Luo culture. “All the four Luo Nyanza counties will have cultural centres to signify and celebrate the Luo as a community,” added Mr Odinga.
The Children’s Crisis Center for the County of Nairobi is set to start construction soon, according to Anne-Line Kinnunen, who is involved in its planning.
The center aims to provide care for children in crisis situations as part of child welfare services. “I do not believe a child needs a separate system of crisis care in Finland.
What I want is that all child welfare agencies are aware.
This work is still newborn in Finland and the crisis care we currently provide has huge variance,” said Ms Kinnunen.
The NCCN/United Families and Friends of Children Experiencing Institutional Abuse (CFO) is helping raise funds for the project.
