Published on: 03 July 2024 04:26 (EAT)
Opposition leader Raila Odinga addresses the press during a joint briefing with Prime Minister CS Musalia Mudavadi on June 5, 2024. PHOTO | COURTESY OF
Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has accused criminals and thugs of infiltrating peaceful Gen Z protests to loot and destroy property.
Odinga condemned the violence that took place in the country on Wednesday and said those responsible must be held accountable.
The Azimio leader called for an end to the violence, stressing that Tuesday’s protest scenes were a double betrayal of the youth.
“What started as an expression of discontent with the government by young Kenyans through peaceful protests and petitions to the authorities, yesterday degenerated into chaos and mayhem,” he said.
“People who were clearly not Gen Z who started the first protests have hijacked it, looting businesses, attacking innocent Kenyans and destroying critical infrastructure.”
He added: “For criminals to hijack the protests and turn them into chaos against innocent Kenyans amounts to a double betrayal of the youth. The bad manners must be stopped.”
According to Odinga, the peaceful protests that began against the 2024 budget bill have already turned 180 degrees and are no longer polite and no longer reflect the demands of Generation Z.
He noted that cases of vandalism, robbery and even rape have been reported in different parts of the country.
“The youth who started the protests wanted to right the wrongs in the country and at the same time convince us that protests can be peaceful and civilized and still achieve their intended goals.
“There are reports of innocent women being harassed and raped in some parts of the country… The images of people looting, vandalizing and robbing were very different from what was seen at the beginning of the protests, when Gen Z had complete control over the process and programs.”
Following the sentencing, Odinga expressed his condolences to those affected by the violence, noting that most of the people whose shops were looted are now worse off than before the protests.
The Azimio leader also called on security services to be held accountable for the violence against protesters.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families who suffered at the hands of looters posing as Gen Z protesters. These are innocent people whose businesses were robbed and their products looted. They are now faced with the reality that they are worse off than they were before the protests,” he said.
“We have condemned the brutal police action against peaceful protesters and we continue to demand courtesy and accountability from security personnel during the protests.”
