Raila cancels Kamukunji rally, says armed goons sent to attack Azimio leaders

A defiant Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga was forced to cancel his planned Kamukunji rally on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports that armed pro-government thugs would shoot at attendees.

Addressing journalists at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) in Nairobi, Mr Odinga, who described the nationwide protests as a success despite police brutality, alleged an elaborate plot by Kenya Kwanza to attack innocent Kenyans at the Kamukunji grounds.

“Late last night, we received intelligence of a most heinous plan by Kenya Kwanza to ferry armed goons who would attack peaceful attendees of our rally in Kamkunji. These goons had express orders to shoot directly into the crowd while enjoying police protection,” Mr Odinga told reporters.

Mr Odinga was speaking as anti-riot police continued to confront a group of youths determined to enter the Kamukunji grounds, the venue for Wednesday's opposition rally.

Police swung into action shortly after 11am after the Azimio team attempted to set up a dais at the venue, firing teargas at them and several youths awaiting the arrival of Azimio leaders.

All hell broke loose as the youths threw stones at the police, driving them away before they (the police) regrouped and returned with more firepower, including water cannons.

Some plainclothes officers also went into action, firing their pistols in the air to disperse the youths who were determined to wait for the opposition leaders at the venue.

Armed thugs

But Mr Odinga claimed the shooters were the armed thugs in his intelligence reports.

“Early this morning (Wednesday), our crew who had been sent to set up the stage at Kamukunji were attacked and their equipment damaged. Some were arrested. In line with the intelligence we received, armed goons descended on Kamukunji grounds and shot indiscriminately into the crowd,” he added.

“Police used water cannons to disperse those peaceably assembled there,” Mr Odinga, who was accompanied by some Azimio legislators, said.

Mr Odinga also declared that Kenyans would not move on until the president "comes out openly and agrees to repeal the Finance Bill and take other measures to reduce the cost of living".

“There is no moving on until Ruto comes out loud and clear on the need to have a bipartisan reconstitution of IEBC, until he commits to respect and stops interfering with other political parties. The fight for multiparty and a new constitution was so painful, so deadly and so costly that it could not have been in vain,” added the former Prime Minister.