Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out in support of peaceful demonstrations planned for Wednesday, June 25, saying that protesting is a fundamental right guaranteed by Kenya’s Constitution.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon during a groundbreaking ceremony in Mombasa County, Raila reminded Kenyans that Article 37 of the Constitution gives everyone the right to gather, picket, and demonstrate peacefully without interference from the police.
However, Raila advised the youth to follow the right legal procedures by informing the police before starting their protests. He explained that notifying law enforcement was the only way to ensure that the protests remain peaceful and orderly.
“Article 37 clearly states that every Kenyan has the right to peacefully protest, picket, and submit petitions to public authorities,” Raila said. “If people are planning to protest, they should send a formal notice to the police. That is how the protests can remain peaceful and have a real impact,” he added.
The ODM party leader further asked both the police and the protesters to engage in discussions beforehand to agree on protest routes and how long the demonstrations would take.
He emphasized that coordination and understanding between the two sides would help prevent chaos and violence.
“Those who want to participate in protests must let the government know in advance,” Raila urged. “They need to explain why they are protesting, mention the date, and also give details about the duration of the protests.”
He went on to say that this is the normal procedure in many countries around the world. “Just the other day, we saw protests happening in countries like Iran, London, Paris, India, and even the United States. In all those places, the organizers informed the police first,” he noted.
At the same time, Raila expressed disappointment with the government for what he described as efforts to block the planned protests. He said stopping people from exercising their rights was not the right approach and only makes things worse.
His comments come just hours before the scheduled nationwide protests, which are meant to mark one year since last year’s massive anti-government demonstrations. Those protests led to the storming of Parliament and the loss of several young lives, an event that left a deep mark on the country.
The protests planned for Wednesday, June 25, are expected to begin early in the morning, with protestors staging coordinated marches across major towns and cities.
The day will serve as a memorial for those who died during last year’s protests on the same date.
Meanwhile, the government has played down the planned demonstrations. On Monday, June 23, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura declared that there would be no protests on June 25 and suggested that those wishing to mark the day should do so privately.
“There will be no protests on June 25. Anyone who wants to remember the day should do so from the comfort of their homes,” Mwaura said, sparking mixed reactions among Kenyans across the country.
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