President William Ruto’s administration is seeking Europe and the United States to help him contain Azimio leader Raila Odinga who has threatened to lead a mass action against the government in two weeks if it does not meet the demands of the Azimio Coalition.
President Ruto wants Mr. Odinga blocked from traveling abroad, among other sanctions for his refusal to accept the outcome of last year’s elections.
During the Azimio coalition prayers at Jivanje Gardens on Wednesday, Odinga said the mass protests will be across the country in 14 days if demands for changes in the formula for choosing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) members and lowering the cost of living are not honored by the government.
”You cannot earn the respect of the international community when you are busy trying to cause civil strife in your country. (President Robert) Mugabe of Zimbabwe was a respected democrat but when he started undermining the same democratic tenets, the international community placed tough sanctions against him. Raila has earned a name for himself for being a democrat. But if he starts behaving like a rebel, we will ask the international community to punish him,” National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya told the ODM boss on Sunday.
His remarks were backed by Defence and Foreign Relations Committee chairman Nelson Koech who says Raila’s international recognition stands to suffer greatly if he continues with his rebellion against the government.
”The globalisation of markets and production means the international community has insurable interests in Kenya’s political and economic stability. Anybody who attempts to cause instability in the globalisation matrix will soon find himself isolated and swimming with sharks in dark cold waters,” the Belgut lawmaker said.
