Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has blamed Kenyan secuity officers, who are led by Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, for his lack of appearance at the Saba Saba demonstration.
While speaking to the press at Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday, July 7, Odinga said that the security officers in the country barricaded all roads, leading to Kamukunji grounds.
Further, he said that he intended to commemorate the historic day Kamukunji but was forced to issue a press statement instead.
“Today I was going to join Kenyans at Kamukunji to commemorate Saba Saba Day. Unfortunately, as we all know the roads are blocked which made it difficult for people to go to Kamukunji,” said Odinga.
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Raila Recalls Events of 1990 Sasa Sasa
Additionally, he recalled the events of Saba Saba protests in 1990, saying that many Kenyans were killed while trying to reach Kamukunji grounds for the demonstrations.
He regretted that the remembrance of the day has not been consistent in its history of 35 years.
“The Kenyan people came out in large numbers to go to Kamukunji on July 7, 1990. Many people were killed attempting to reach the grounds at that time,” said Odinga.
On the other hand, he has accused leaders of using the historic day to advance their political agenda.
“It is unfortunate that some of the people we were fighting then and who sanctioned our arrest are trying to hide behind Saba Saba to advance their political fortunes.
“Some of them are alive today and are masquerading as liberators” claimed the former PM.
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He has insisted that the protests should be sacred and not treated as any other protest in the country.
“Saba Saba was and still is about the sacred and historic grounds of Kamukunji. It was not and is not just another routine street protest in Nairobi or any other town.
“Saba Saba was inclusive, democratic and inter-generational. It was not one group against the entire nation. All were involved, young and old, people inside and out of government. These features are what made Saba Saba suceed,” added Odinga
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