In a surprising turn of events, the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Edwin Sifuna, has called out Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei to engage in a physical fight rather than obstructing Kenyans’ constitutional right to demonstrate. Sifuna made this statement while addressing journalists during a press conference organized by Azimio, a political group aiming to remove President William Ruto from power through the collection of over 10 million signatures.
Sifuna, known for his outspoken nature, challenged Senator Cherargei to direct his energy towards a boxing contest with him instead of causing mayhem during the planned demonstrations. “Cherargei speaks a lot because he knows he is protected by state machinery. Before fighting with protesters, come and engage with me in a boxing contest,” Sifuna asserted.
Additionally, Sifuna claimed that Azimio’s website had been targeted by hackers attempting to disrupt the signature collection process. “Over the recent past, we have received over 1,000 attacks on our website,” he revealed. Despite these alleged cyber threats, Sifuna remained confident in the success of their project and emphasized that the planned demonstrations for three consecutive days – Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – would proceed as scheduled until the government addresses the high cost of living.
However, leaders from the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance issued a warning against any form of demonstrations. Speaking at Sondu, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki likened the demonstrators to criminals, equating their actions of property destruction to that of terrorists. He expressed concern over the emergence of what he referred to as “political terrorists,” while highlighting the government’s efforts to combat actual terrorist organizations such as Al-Shabaab in the northeastern part of Kenya.
The tensions between the Azimio group and the government continue to escalate as both sides maintain their positions. Kenyans eagerly await the outcome of this confrontation, hoping for a resolution that addresses their pressing concerns regarding the high cost of living.
