Thursday, December 8, 2022 –Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition has changed mind on holding a parallel Jamhuri Day event which had been scheduled to take place at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi.
In an official communication from Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, the cancellation is due to prior commitments that were not confirmed at the time of the initial announcement.
He, however, notified their supporters that all other anti-government public rallies will go on as scheduled, countrywide.
In their Wednesday December 7 first Kamukunji public rally, Mr. Odinga had confirmed that he will be holding another public meeting at Jacaranda Grounds on December 12 and invited everyone to attend.
This event was going to coincide with National Jamhuri Day; something that was not going to be well received by the State.
In their ongoing meetings, Azimio wants President William Ruto to address a total of 12 pertinent issues surrounding governance and the rule of law.
These include pressuring the government to reinstate subsidies for unga, fuel, school fees, and electricity in order to lower the cost of living in the country.
“Ruto needs to understand that while his fortunes may have changed for the better, for a majority of parents if not all, the economic situation has become worse or remained the same,” reads part of the resolutions read by National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
Azimio also wants the regime to reinstate all Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC commissioners who are being threatened by the State over the just-ended elections.
The opposition is also piling intense pressure on the president to urgently start disbursements of social safety subsidies such as cash transfers to the elderly, pesa ya wazee, and Linda Mama, which provided coverage for maternal issues for mothers who were economically underprivileged.
Additionally, the opposition is pushing for the creation of a well-funded office of the leader of opposition.