Raila Odinga Cancels Parallel Jamhuri Day Fete

The Azimio La Umoja coalition calls off its planned parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations on Monday, December 12 at the Jacaranda Gardens.

"The cancelation has been occasioned by the upcoming engagements that will keep the party's top leaders away in the run-up to Jamhuri Days and a few days after," Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi announces.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Monday announced to his supporters that he will hold parallel Jamhuri celebrations in the form of a peaceful rally with “Kenyan patriots” in Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi.

“On the 12th of December, we are going to Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, not Kamukunji. We will be celebrating Jamhuri Day with Kenyan patriots and it is also going to be a very peaceful congregation. No protests, no picketing, although that is also guaranteed by the constitution of Kenya,” Odinga told supporters.

President William Ruto will be leading the country in marking the national celebrations at Nyayo stadium.

Wandayi said the engagements by their leaders were awaiting confirmation at the time the announcement of parallel celebrations was made.

"We reaffirm that even with the cancelation of the parallel celebrations, the People's Dialogue shall continue in one way or another, in public or private in the coming days, weeks, and months in different parts of the country," he said.

The Minority leader went ahead to say that the opposition is committed to keeping President William Ruto's administration in check to ensure it delivers to Kenyans.

"As Azimio, we promise that we shall continue to stand together and fight together until the Ruto regime returns to what really matters to the people," he reckoned.