As members of the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya party continued to hold demonstrations throughout the city in preparation for Monday’s large-scale protest scheduled by coalition party leader Raila Odinga, security has been stepped up near State House in Kisumu.
On Friday, more police officers than usual set up barriers at the State Lodge’s entrance on Jomo Kenyatta Road, accompanied with scores of anti-riot police.
While this was going on, followers of Azimio once more demonstrated against President William Ruto, with the leaders of the protests warning the youth against damaging properties.
As a result of the increased security, protesters changed their course and marched instead along Oginga Odinga Street toward Bunge la Wananchi at the Central Square, where they were addressed, rather than in the direction of the State lodge.
Seth Kanga, the MCA for Market Milimani and the ODM chairman of the Kisumu Central Constituency, spearheaded the protests and instructed the youth to demonstrate peacefully.
Only a small group of MCAs and activists led the protests on Friday; Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili and Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, who had been in charge of the demonstrations, were visibly absent.
Speaking to the Azimio followers, Kanga declared that the Nairobi march was unstoppable and added that on Saturday, before their journey to the capital, they will have prayers at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports ground.
During their demonstrations on Wednesday, in which they interrupted a meeting of the Communications Authority (CA), Kanga claimed that the leaders of the demonstration had received phone calls from Kisumu police threatening them with arrest.
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