Nairobi — Nairobi Traders Association is on Thursday planning to organize peaceful picketing at the residence of former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta at Muthaiga.
The Chairperson of the traders association Theuri Wanjiru said they are seeking police cooperation during the procession that seeks to implore Mama Ngina to allegedly implore his son Former President Uhuru Kenyatta from financing the Azimio protest.
In the letter addressed to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Officer of Muthaiga Police Station, they have urged police officers to ensure the safety of all their participants during the protests.
"During the procession, our demonstrators will respectfully plea with the Former First Lady to request her sons to cease financing demonstrations that have been adversely affecting our business,"
"While the nature of our gathering is firm and resolute, we emphasize that it is intended to be peaceful and respectful," Wanjiru stated.
The Nairobi Traders Association Chairperson termed the protests as urgent and aimed to address the disrupted business and livelihood due to opposition protests
"In conclusion,we kindly request your immediate attention to this matter and the significance of a peaceful resolution.As responsible members of the community,we firmly believe that our right to peaceful protests is an essential pillar our democractic society,"said Wanjiru.
Mama Ngina security withdrawal
This comes hours after the security detail of former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta was withdrawn at her Nairobi's Muthaiga and Gatundu homes.
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The more than ten GSU and Administration Police officers were recalled on Tuesday at about 5.00pm.
Her security had been scaled down from 30 last year and left with only ten.
The action followed accusations by Kenya Kwanza leaders that his son former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been sponsoring Azimio's Opposition protests organized by leader Raila Odinga.
On Tuesday, a group of Nairobi traders held a press conference announcing that they will hold a demonstration at Mama Ngina's home over the alleged activities of his son.
Kenyatta denied claims he has been sponsoring the chaos but President William Ruto who took over from him after last year's elections has directly blamed him for teaming up with Odinga to stabilize the government.
"We know the sponsors of these protests is Odinga and his handshake brother and we will not allow them to continue destabilizing the country," the president declared last week.
Odinga has called for more protests from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday against the high cost of living occasioned by the Finance Act signed by the president.
Nine people died in violent clashes on Wednesday last week in parts of the country as demonstrators called to protest by opposition leader Raila Odinga marched in defiance of a government ban. Six others had been killed in similar protests the previous week.
