Piece by: FAITH MATETE

08 March 2023

• Police officers were manning the roadblocks and a police lorry and land cruiser were on standby.

• Motorists, boda boda operators and pedestrians were forced to use an alternative route.

Police in Kisumu on Wednesday laid a roadblock on the road leading to the State Lodge ahead of a planned protest by a section of Kenyans over the cost of living.

Police officers were manning the roadblocks and a police lorry and land cruiser were on standby.

Motorists, boda boda operators and pedestrians were forced to use an alternative route.

Locals who passed by said they will still hold the protests on Thursday as the 14-day ultimatum Azimio leader Raila Odinga gave President Ruto lapses.

Some of the locals who spoke to the Star said they were waiting for the nationwide demonstration and nothing will stop them.

Michael Olang said currently life is unbearable and Kenyans were suffering.

“If this mass action being called by Raila will see some of the problems we are facing now in this country solved, then I am more than ready for it,” he said.

Police on Wednesday blocked all the roads leading to State House in Nairobi in anticipation of confrontations with Azimio supporters should Raila call for mass action.

Raila has said that he will make a major announcement on his next political move tomorrow (Wednesday), in what could see him unveil a multifaceted roadmap for his mass action plan.

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi reiterated that mass action will proceed alongside the people’s barazas across the country.

“We will demonstrate to this government that we have the people’s support,” he said.

Azimio leaders said last week that it will summon all its supporters to the capital city this week for a major rally in Nairobi before heading to State House to present a petition to President Ruto.

Raila had asked Ruto to find solutions to a number of issues he raised including addressing the high cost of living, opening the election servers and halting the recruitment of IEBC commissioners.

However, with the recruitment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission process on, Ruto faces tough options with Raila expected to mount pressure through mass action.