The Azimio la Umoja Coalition issued a stern call yesterday for the cessation of police violence against protestors and the immediate release of all individuals detained following the widespread anti-Finance Bill protests that rocked the country on Tuesday.
The coalition claims that over 200 Kenyans have been killed by police using excessive force to suppress the demonstrations.
In a press briefing at the SKM Command Centre in Karen, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police actions and questioned the government’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights. Musyoka cited reports indicating a high death toll among protestors, alleging that in Githurai alone, 157 people were killed by police forces.
“From all accounts, more than 200 Kenyans lost their lives while exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully assemble, demonstrate, and picket. From our accounts of the 200, the police in Githurai, Nairobi, last night killed some 157 people. These numbers are more than likely to rise,” Musyoka stated,
The Azimio leader also criticized President William Ruto for failing to express condolences to the victims and their families. Instead, Musyoka accused Ruto of lauding the police for their actions, drawing parallels to a similar incident last year where 75 protestors were killed during street demonstrations, for which Ruto allegedly praised the police’s response.
“This is unacceptable and unconstitutional. Ruto must also tell the nation who these abettors, funders, and orchestrators of the Anti-Finance Bill demonstrations are, as he alleged last night. If he does not reveal the names, it means that the hijackings, abductions, and incommunicado detentions will continue,”
Azimio’s demands include an immediate halt to what they describe as “Gestapo-like abductions” and the killings of protestors. The coalition emphasized their commitment to defending the Constitution and vowed to challenge what they perceive as the unlawful actions of President Ruto and his administration.
Kalonzo, flanked by several MPs, declared that the Kenya Kwanza regime had crossed a dangerous line, threatening the nation’s stability and democratic values.
“They crossed the Rubicon with devastating consequences. It was an unparalleled moment in our 61-year-old history. It is not too late for Ruto to pull the country back from the brink by declining to assent to this oppressive Finance Bill, 2024, and sending it back to Parliament for withdrawal and further engagement as demanded by Kenyans and the international community,”
The Finance Bill 2024, which has sparked significant opposition due to its perceived detrimental impact on the economy and the public, continues to be a flashpoint for widespread unrest. Protestors argue that the bill’s provisions will exacerbate economic hardships and undermine livelihoods.
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