The Azimio la Umoja alliance has decided to halt
demonstrations initially planned for Wednesday, July 26th. In their official
communication, the coalition announced that the day would instead be dedicated
to holding a vigil in honor of those who tragically lost their lives during the
anti-government protests, which commenced in March. The opposition is
organizing protests to call for the repeal of the finance law that introduces new
taxes and aims to reduce the cost of living, among other demands.
"We are calling on Kenyans to come out, light candles,
and lay flowers, preferably white, in remembrance of and respect for the
victims.
"On that day, we will also roll out the process of
reaching out to the victims' families to offer any assistance that can lessen
their burden. During the vigils, candle lighting, and laying of flowers, we
encourage Kenyans to say prayers and read out the names of victims," said
Azimio la Umoja in a statement.
Amnesty International, an independent organization, has strongly criticized the deployment of excessive force against the protestors, revealing that no less than 30 individuals have lost their lives at the hands of the police since the onset of the protests in March 2023.
The Azimio la Umoja coalition has assured that they will
furnish a comprehensive list of the victims before Wednesday. According to
their account, the tally of lives lost stands at 50. They argued that numerous
hospitals have received directives not to reveal the count of casualties or fatalities,
or even to admit individuals who are victims of police brutality. As a result,
many are presently nursing their injuries in the confines of their homes, while
others have tragically passed away without their deaths being officially
recorded.
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