The Mt Kenya Times 
Azimio-led street demonstrations
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- One thing was however clear. There were not incidences of police brutality that were reported on that day.
- This is despite the fact a Matatu, a truck was razed down and a petrol station located along Ngong road was looted.
- Though the two sides resorted to a blame game over who had hired the goons who destroyed these properties, we know that none of the Azimio demonstrations has ever been peaceful.
- Well, the Azimio leaders always blamed the police for provoking the protesters. This is when they used water canons, teargas canisters and rubber bullet to disperse and block them from accessing certain areas.
When the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga jetted back to the country and declared that the mass street protests will proceed as planned, I had a feeling that this time he will be embarrassed and ashamed.
This is because the turnout will be very low and worse still it is only pockets of members of his community who show up. I was right.
For the first time, Raila and his brigade would not come out to lead these demonstrations.
Seemingly, this was because they had already received the briefings.
After staying away, Raila emerged after 4pm to address a press conference at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi.
In what would be widely interpreted as face-saving strategy, he would train his gun on the National Police Service (NPS).
There was a heavy presence of the police and they used excessive force against our supporters.
This is why some of them failed to turn ‘out of fear’.
He was flanked his troops.
One thing was however clear. There were not incidences of police brutality that were reported on that day.
This is despite the fact a Matatu, a truck was razed down and a petrol station located along Ngong road was looted.
Though the two sides resorted to a blame game over who had hired the goons who destroyed these properties, we know that none of the Azimio demonstrations has ever been peaceful.
Well, the Azimio leaders always blamed the police for provoking the protesters. This is when they used water canons, teargas canisters and rubber bullet to disperse and block them from accessing certain areas.
These destructions happen in retaliation, they would allege.
But in the latest incidences, there was no report that the goons destroyed these properties when the police were engaging them in a running battle.
Allow me to say this. As a creature of the constitution, the work of the National Police Service (NPS) is very clear.
The core mandate is to protect the lives and properties of all Kenyans.
They are also supposed to protect all government institutions and installations.
One can, therefore, understand why they would block Azimio supporters from accessing the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
As the capital city, Nairobi is not only the leading business hub in East Africa region but also the headquarter of the government including the seat of power and international organizations including United Nations (UN).
Listen to the narrative of the Azimio leader and his brigade.
The only language that President Ruto can understand is that of mass protests.
I disagree. The president has been extending an olive branch to them. My government is ready to engage you on matters that will take our country forward.
Concerning the demands raised by Azimio, the President stepped out to provide leadership and this culminated to the establishment of a 14-member parliamentary bipartisan committee.
Raila initially heeded Dr Ruto and called off the demonstrations.
As Azimio, we welcome the President’s gesture. He means well for the country.
We shall pick our team of seven members of parliament which will negotiate with thier (Kenya Kwanza) team comprising the same number of the lawmakers.
A few days later, Raila took many by surprise when he changed the goalposts.
We are going back to the streets. Reason? President Ruto is taking us for a ride.
How? The talks had not started. So how do you know your issues will not be addressed?
This was like putting the cart before the horse.
Many believe the Raila’s ultimate goal is force Dr Ruto to share the government with him.
He played the same card during the tenures of Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
This time, Dr Ruto has stood to his gun. You developed a bad habit. I’m prepared to correct this once for all.
You role as an opposition leader is well defined. Stick to it.
This leaves Raila with only one option. To escalate the mass protests and this is with a view of causing maximum damage.
If he succeeds, he thinks this can make Dr Ruto to climb down and agree to embrace and engage him as a core-principal.
At this juncture, allow me to give three reasons why Kenyans have lost interest and steam in supporting his demonstrations.
First, it is upon the realization that he has been hoodwinking them to believe he was fighting for thier course yet his main goal is push a personal agenda.
Two, some of demands were ill-advised and made in bad faith. They were designed to plunge Kenya into chaos and bloodshed and he take advantage of this unfortunate situation to try to topple the government of Kenya.
Under Kenyan law, any person who tries to overthrow a democratically and popularly elected government commits a capital offence of treason.
Three, a good number of Kenyans showed up in Raila demonstrations because of only one reason: The high cost of living.
President Ruto has made great strides to address the matter. The price of Unga has been coming down.
He has also been reiterating. God has blessed us with rains and we are now in a planting season. We expect a bumper harvest. If this happens, the cost of food would naturally drop. The retail price of 2kg packet of Unga would range between Sh150 and Sh100.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER June 24, 2026
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