Pressure mounts on Azimio to stop protest over wanton destruction

Anti-riots police engage protestors at Kitengela town in Kajiado county during the anti-governmental protest. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

Pressure is mounting on opposition leader Raila Odinga to reconsider the nationwide anti-government protests owing to the rampant destruction by protestors.

The COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli joins the list of Kenyan leaders pushing the Azimio brigade to stop the protests arguing that the demo has been hijacked by goons.

Speaking a day after the demos that saw roads infrastructure vandalised, private property destroyed and scores of people losing their lives, Atwoli said the protests may not yield the results intended and instead called for an alternative mechanism to petition the government.

"The Azimio brigade has lost control of the protesters and they are now in the hands of goons and people who do not respect the rule of law," said Atwoli.

The COTU boss said vandalism on the Nairobi Expressway during Wednesday's protest exposed Kenya's primitiveness in expressing dissatisfaction with the government.

"I appeal to the leaders in Azimio led by Mr Odinga to reconsider the protests in relation to our infrastructure that is very costly. We must ask ourselves if the protest will yield results and if they are conducive to our economic development," said Atwoli.

He added; "Mr Odinga has always associated himself with the Expressway as part of the team that planned its construction and we don't expect him to allow the destruction," said Atwoli.

According to the trade unionist, thousands of workers have lost their jobs due to the looting that happened on Wednesdays adding that continuation of the protests will only worsen the economic constraints Kenyans are faxing.

"About 500o workers are out of jobs and we are still surveying for the exact number of affected persons. Burning infrastructure, destroying and looting supermarkets will not help us lower the cost of living," he added.

Fuhrer, he said introducing law that will help hold accountable the people responsible for destruction during protests would be a shift from the nature and style of demonstrating in the country.

"What was witnessed during the protests puts Kenya in a very bad place globally in regard to economic planning and development. No investor will agree to put in their money in such a chaotic country," said Atwoli.

Meanwhile, he urged the Azimio team to move on from last year's elections and give President William Ruto time to deliver.

"We went through elections and moved to the Supreme Court and we did not get it. A president was sworn in and we must accept that Ruto carried the day and now we have a government in place," he added.

Meanwhile, Ufungamano joint Forum of Religious Organisations (U-JFRO) weighed into the opposition-led protests urging them to observe the rule of law while addressing their issues to the government.

"UJFRO urges Hon Raila Odinga to call off the demonstrations organized by Azimio to pursue any grievances through the processes and systems in the laws of Kenya, to promote the economy and the welfare of the country, "said UFRO vice chairperson Gerry Kibarabara.

Kibarabara called on the clerics to join hands in the move by providing advice to the public not to engage in violence while demonstrating and distance themselves from vandalizing and looting of property.

At the same time, UJFRO said there is dire need to review the use of taxpayers' money to reduce costs on monumental debt payment and wage bills.

"Reduction of the size of government and its expenditures is one of the deliberate measures which the president should undertake boldly, in the interest of the nation," said Kibarabara.

UJFRO said that the move by the current government to up the number of cabinet secretaries is a great violation of the constitution and catering for their salaries does not only burden taxpayers but also render its efforts in providing good working condition

They disputed the proposal by the salary and remuneration commission to increase government official's salaries by 14 percent as a decision that is untimely and does not address the challenges of common citizens.

"UJFRO disagrees with the proposal of increasing the salaries of top public servants and supports president Ruto's view that the timing is wrong and salary increase for the cadre public servants is misplaced because they are already earning many times compared to lower cadre," said Thomas Irungu a member in the organisation.