On Sunday, November 27, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced nationwide protests in support of the four breakaway IEBC commissioners.
The rallies were scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, November 30, in Nairobi to defend IeEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya, and Francis Wanderi, who face a President Ruto-backed ouster.
“We are going to consult widely with all Kenyans, starting with the people of Nairobi at the Kamukunji Grounds to ask them if they accept that these IEBC commissioners go home. After that we will reveal a way forward,” Raila said.
However, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi on Tuesday, November 29, announced that the opposition leader had postponed his planned protest.
Wandayi, a close ally of Raila Odinga said the rallies were postponed to December 7 to allow the smooth running of the ongoing national examinations.
“We have decided to reschedule the start of our public engagements from tomorrow, November 30 to December 7, 2022, due to the ongoing national examinations. We have listened to the appeals of parents and our school-going children and we decided to obey their wishes,” Wandayi said.
The postponement comes just days after President William Ruto warned the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate against holding countrywide protests.
Ruto who was speaking during the launch of Twiga Foods at Tatu City on Monday, November 28, urged Raila not to hold demonstrations but keep the country peaceful.
“We are consolidating our country and I want to tell our brothers in the opposition to work with us, to criticize us, but let’s keep the country peaceful,
“I don’t think holding demonstrations and asking Kenyans to do whatever they want them to do is part of holding the government accountable,” Ruto said.
