Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua assured Azimio leaders that their security would be reinstated after a period of three months.
The DP made this statement during his visit to Alliance High School, on Sunday July 30. He said that the withdrawal of officers from Azimio leaders was necessary to provide reinforcement to their colleagues deployed to safeguard property and individuals during the anti-government protests.
Gachagua emphasized that the three-month timeframe was put in place to closely monitor Azimio’s activities. The period was also meant to ensure that there would be no further demonstrations on the streets.
“Police officers were withdrawn from Azimio leaders because we needed more officers to deal with the protests. Those police officers will be on standby for the next three months. This is until Azimio assures Kenyans there will be no more demonstrations,” he stated.
“We did not have sufficient officers to deal with demos for three days. Your officers will be returned to you after three months when we are sure there are no demos,” he explained.
The Deputy President was addressing concerns raised by Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko. Ayacko revealed that his security had also been withdrawn along with that of Azimio leaders.
Governor Ayacko, who was among the guests at the school, stated that while his county supported peaceful demonstrations, he opposed violence, yet his security was withdrawn one evening without warning.
“As these things (maandamano) were going on, I went to my home one night at 8 o’clock. However, all my security was withdrawn, including personal protection. Let us have discussions that do not create more victims than necessary. Let us have discussions that create healing and one nation for all of us.”
On July 17, two days before the scheduled Wednesday protests, the security of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka was also withdrawn.
Opposition members believed that the move was a political witchhunt aimed at deterring the Azimio la Umoja Coalition from staging mass demonstrations.
Gachagua’s statement came shortly after President William Ruto expressed that an agreement between the two camps could be possible if Azimio called off its protests.
