Raila Junior, son of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga, has responded to claims that the opposition leader is sponsoring the planned protests to be held in various parts of the country.
Blogger Lord Abraham Mutai alleged that Raila was behind the Tuesday, July 16, Gen Z demonstrations.
Taking to his X account on July 16, Mutai claimed that the opposition leader had mobilized his supporters from slums in Nairobi to hijack the protests.
He advised the youth not to take part in the protests alleging the former President Uhuru Kenyatta had succeeded in convincing Raila to support the protests.
“Raila Odinga is one of the key mobilizers for today’s demos. He has activated his slum supporters. Gen Zs keep off the streets. Seems Uhuru finally won Raila over to the chaos side,” Mutai wrote.
Mutai also told President William Ruto to stop supporting Raila’s bid for the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson’s bid.
“President Ruto must abandon Raila’s AU dreams. This is not an elder statesman anymore,” he claimed.
Raila Junior Rubbishes Claims
However, Junior rubbished the allegations by quoting a text is from Article 1 of the Kenyan Constitution.
“Rubbish. The People Shall,” Junior said.
This in part of Article 1 which states that “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution.”
The phrase ‘The People Shall’ has been trending on social media and it adds that “The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.
There has been a debate regarding the faces behind the ongoing anti-government protests led by the youth.
Ruto has constantly maintained that the protests have been hijacked by organized groups of criminals causing chaos, mayhem and violence.
Also Read: Ford Foundation Answers Ruto After Accusation of Sponsoring Protests
Ruto Blames Ford Foundation
While addressing a political rally in Nakuru on Monday, July 15, Ruto accused the American NGO Ford Foundation of sponsoring violence during the protests.
Ruto claimed that the Foundation hired goons to cause chaos during the demonstrations leading to destruction of property and looting of businesses.
“Those sponsoring them to cause violence and mayhem must be ashamed of themselves. We ask the Ford Foundation to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests. We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back our hard-won democracy,” said the President
He asked international NGOs to explain to Kenyans their role in the recent protests that rocked the country and what they sought to gain by sponsoring violence and chaos.
Also Read: Ford Foundation: Inside American NGO Ruto Accuses of Funding Protests in Kenya
Foundations Denies Claims
However, Ford Foundation dismissed the allegations stating that its policies have always remained neutral.
“We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking,” the statement reads in part.
The Foundation maintained that it acknowledges the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country and rejects any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community in Kenya.
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