President Ruto Tells World His Stance over Raila Odinga's Planned Demos

President William Ruto now says the opposition in Kenya is at liberty to hold anti-government mass action protests.

Speaking to France 24, the president held that protests constitute the facets of democracy and thus his administration is not objecting to such mechanisms of airing grievances.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had suggested no protests would be allowed citing destruction to property and loss of lives in previous demonstrations.

Ruto however stated that the government is opposed to destruction of property and violence the freedom to picket notwithstanding.

"I have no problem with Raila Odinga organising protests. There are protests in Paris everyday, and that is part of democracy and expression. All I have told them is let us not engage in destruction of property and violence, otherwise, protests are perfect," he said.

Ruto has been in Paris to attend the Global Pact Finance Summit.  

The summit would seek to reimagine the global finance system and foster the creation of a more inclusive financial architecture.

Part of his agenda was to present bold proposals for the establishment of a new Multilateral Climate Finance Institutional Architecture to cushion the African continent against adversities.

"Kenya, Africa, and the Global South at large continue to face significant adverse effects of climate change, despite contributing the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions," the president had said previously.

Meanwhile, back at home, the opposition has called for a consultative meeting to deliberate on the way forward following the sailing of the Finance Bill 2023 in the National Assembly.

The public engagement meeting wil be held on Tuesday, June 27, at the Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi.

Narc Kenya Party leader and Azimio co-principal Martha Karua stated that the coalition would determine the next course of action after the meeting.

“We have decided to invite Kenyans to a consultation at the Kamukunji grounds on Tuesday, June 27 at 10 am. Where the next course of action will be decided. Whenever as a people we have come together we have always found a solution even to our worst problems, this time will be no different. We believe that in the end, it is the people’s voices that will prevail,” Karua stated.