Kenya: You Can't Topple Ruto With Signatures, Forget It-Gachagua Tells Odinga

8 July 2023
Capital FM (Nairobi)
By Josphat Mwangi

Mathira — Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has told off Azimio leader Raila Odinga in his new bid to topple President William Ruto using 10 million signatures from Kenyans.

Gachagua said Odinga is just "daydreaming" because he has failed to accept the reality that he lost the election and nothing will change.

"Kenyans should stay focused because there is no provision in our Constitution giving a leeway to remove a sitting president through signatures," he said, "the provision is one where you vie in an election and win that is where Kenyans' signatures are sought through the ballots and that is it."

Speaking Saturday during the burial of David Mureithi one of his ardent supporters at Giatuu village in Mathira constituency, Gachagua said Odinga had even failed to stop Kenya Kwanza from ascending to power.

"These people should know that they tried to stop Ruto and me from ascending to power even when they had the system on their side and failed, how can they do it now and succeed," he posed.

Odinga announced Friday during a rally in Nairobi plans to collect 10 million signatures in a bid to remove his arch-rival from office.

The 78-year-old lost the closely fought August 2022 election to Ruto and has repeatedly denounced the poll as "stolen".

"Kenyans elected leaders to parliament and they have betrayed them," he said to cheers. "Ruto himself who took over power illegally has betrayed Kenyans we will collect signatures and show him that the power belongs to the people and can go back to the people."

Two people were shot dead in similar protests held in Kisumu as the anti-government protests over a cost-of-living crisis and a raft of controversial tax hikes intensified across the country.

More than 100 people were arrested, 75 of them in Nairobi and are expected in court on Monday.

Odinga has vowed to mount more protests on Wednesday next week.

"Although it's disturbing to see destruction by those rioters led by Azimio leadership, we will remain focused and ensure that we deliver for the economic progress of the nation. We will not be cowed by them," said Gachagua.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

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