Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has stated that the reason for the ongoing anti-government protests in Kenya is due to ignored requests by Azimio la Umoja to have a dialogue with the government.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Thursday, Sifuna noted that Azimio has been making efforts to engage the government to discuss issues such as the high cost of living, but their calls have gone unanswered. As a result, Azimio has been forced to start protesting against the government, as allowed by the constitution.
“There were certain issues that we felt were critical and the administration would address, one is the fact that Kenyans continue to feel the high cost of living the question of when the cost of unga is going to come down has always been a moving target,” said Sifuna.
He added: “Unfortunately our brothers on the other side have ignored our invitations to dialogue and we are left with no option but to express our frustration through what our constitution has allowed us to use.”
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“The window for dialogue has closed because we were hoping we would discuss these issues within the time frame that we gave.”
Senator Sifuna argued that there have been no reports of looting or fights during the protests and that they are acting within the confines of Kenyan law.
“We have seen an attempt to stigmatize opposition protests. None of our public barazas have any incidents of looting, injury, fights, or destruction of property. They have been peaceful yet people continue to characterise us as violent people,” he said.
“We understand the law and our rights and we intend to exercise them.”
He added that the protests are solely aimed at benefiting the Kenyan people and not for self-gain.
“There is nobody in Azimio’s leadership who is not able to afford unga, so we are not doing this for ourselves. I am paid a salary in parliament, but this is about giving a voice to the people who elected you.”
Azimio plans to hold another public rally today in Nakuru ahead of a ‘State House storm’ set for Monday, March 20. Senator Sifuna affirmed that the protests will not halt until the government meets the promises it made to Kenyans.