Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome maintained that the anti-government protests by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party chief Raila Odinga are illegal.
Koome warned Azimio protestors including the former Prime Minister against participating in the Monday, March 27, protests and threatened to arrest those who will be found picketing.
“If you are planning to demonstrate tomorrow, you will be dealt with accordingly. Whoever you are, it doesn’t matter,” said Koome.
However, speaking during a church service at Jesus Teaching Ministry in Embakasi on Sunday, March 26, Raila challenged the IG to personally arrest him.
The opposition leader said he will be on the frontline of the demonstrations tomorrow and ready to be arrested.
The ODM leader told the police boss that his demonstrations, which he termed peaceful, will go on as planned on Monday, March 27, adding that the coalition has already served the police with a notice.
“Bwana Koome, Koma kabisa. Unasema ati unaweza shika kila mtu, mimi niko tayari, nitakuwa kwa mstari wa mbele, Koome hapana tuma askari njoo wewe mwenyewe tuonane ana kwa ana (I have heard you saying that you are going to arrest everyone. I am ready for you. Koome, don’t even send police officers to come and arrest me. Come and arrest me personally. Come and face me one on one),” Odinga said.
Last week, the veteran politician launched demonstrations to force the Kenya Kwanza government to tackle the high cost of living.
Raila is further protesting the presidential victory he claims was stolen from him during the August 2022 polls won by President William Ruto.
During last Monday’s protests, several businesses and properties were destroyed or looted in both cities that literally shut for the better part of the day.
