On Sunday, April 2, a standoff developed after a bishop from the AIPCA church in Ruiru, Kiambu County, stopped the service because the Azimio leaders, including Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, were there.
According to reports, the bishop interrupted the ceremony in the middle and summoned the leaders into a room where they deliberated on the message they would deliver in the church.
According to reports, the bishop advised that any political messaging should be brief and unrelated to the predicted large-scale protest on April 3.
Since the ceremony was still in progress when this item was published, no politician was permitted to address the congregation.
But, Raila Odinga of Azimio skipped the Ruiru Sunday service.
It was also unclear if the church in Kiambu had been informed of the Azimio leaders’ visit.
A spot check on Raila’s official social media pages showed his latest post where he exuded confidence on Monday’s demonstrations as he stated: “We are all ready and set for Mega Monday.”
The leaders were expected to relay more information regarding the mass action touted by the opposition leader Raila as the mother of all demonstrations.
“Let me tell you, on Monday, we shall have the mother of all demonstrations in Nairobi. We are undeterred and I urge Kenyans to turn out in larger numbers and from all corners to champion for their rights peacefully,” he stated on March 31, 2023.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, however, warned the ODM leader that the government would assert its authority on the protests.
“I want to caution those young men, who have been taking advantage of the violence unleashed by Raila to steal property, mug people and loot property, that Monday is their last day to do so.
“If they care, to look at the penal code, the consequences are extremely heavy. The Government of the Republic of Kenya will assert its authority in protecting life and property and upholding the rule of law.
“I am just giving that caution to those young people that it is not going to be business as usual. It cannot happen, and it will not happen. It is wrong, it is immoral and it is unacceptable,” he noted during his tour in Malava, Kakamega County.
