After Azimio chiefs announced nationwide peaceful marches last night, opposition supporters (joined by increasingly hurting Kenyans over new fuel prices) are now preparing themselves for a Friday of protests and running fights with the police.
On the same day that President William Ruto's backers authorized the employment of new IEBC commissioners, Azimio boss Raila Odinga declared a fresh wave of protests, and a showdown now looms large and scary.
The opposition urged followers to demonstrate and picket beginning on Friday, which is expected to pave the way for ongoing conflicts with the police, who are eager to put an end to the protest marches.
The prominent members of Azimio have planned a significant rally at Nairobi's revered Kamukunji grounds.
"We are come to let you know that, as we previously stated, the Kamukunji meeting will take place on Friday in Nairobi. However, this Third Liberation will be started at Kamukunjis all over the country, not just in Nairobi, according to Raila.
"Let's go forward starting on Friday with a brave desire to stick together. We're going to collaborate. Let's continue to battle to the very end.
The former prime minister was eager to point out, however, that their agitation would be legal and peaceful under the constitution.
"We are not in any way encouraging violence by engaging in picketing, protests, tax boycotts, or other forms of civil disobedience. In the past, we have never supported violence. We will never support it, he continued.
"Unless the law itself is wrong, we can't be wrong by using civil disobedience and protests."
The police have violently responded to demands from the opposition for protest parades, blocking roads and making extensive use of tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds and opposition organizers.
The opposition had already asked that the ruling coalition stop stealing its members, and this demand was on the agenda for the now-cancelled negotiations.
Adan Keynan (Eldas), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Sabina Chege (nominated), Fatuma Gedi (Isiolo Senator), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), and Tom Ojienda (Kisumu Senator) were a few Azimio MPs who had sworn loyalty to Kenya Kwanza. In addition, the Raila camp demanded that the Finance Bill be withdrawn as a prerequisite for the now-defunct negotiations.
As a compromise for bipartisan talks that would have helped to end the impasse over the IEBC succession, the opposition called off demonstrations in March.
However, the negotiations broke down, and Azimio formally withdrew, claiming that Ruto's Kenya Kwanza had broken the requirements for the negotiations to continue.
In the bipartisan talks on Tuesday, the Kenya Kwanza team accused Azimio of preventing progress by needless political posturing.
The lack of communication and Azimio's absence from the meeting, according to bipartisan committee co-chair George Murugara, "shows lack of faith from them on the talks."
But when Azimio addressed the media hours later, they denied the allegations and charged Kenya Kwanza with obstructing the negotiations.
The opposition asserted that even as negotiations were ongoing, the Selection Panel still moving forward with hiring.
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