Azimio leader Raila Odinga has unveiled a youth resistance movement dubbed “movement for defense of democracy” that he intends to use to push President Willian Ruto to vacate State House.
Mr Odinga claimed that Dr Ruto did not win the August 9 presidential election but got to State House by hijacking and subverting the will of the people.
The Orange Democratic Movement leader also announced that public consultative meetings will head to Mavoko in Machakos County on Friday before going to Busia County on Sunday then Rift Valley, Coast and Mt Kenya region.
Speaking during a rally in Kamukunji grounds in Kibra, the ODM party leader accused the President of governing in absolute contempt for the people and the country’s institutions.
He said that Dr Ruto promised a poor man’s government only to unveil a government of billionaires that has no room for the poor.
He argued that instead of lifting people out of poverty, President Ruto's government was pushing more Kenyans into poverty.
He observed that while the President did a good job identifying the problems of hustlers, he is now making their problems worse.
Mr Odinga highlighted the increase in taxes as a policy that will drive more Kenyans into even deeper problems amid the high cost of living.
He said Kenyans have the right to reject the Kenya Kwanza government and put in place one that governs in the best interest of Kenyans.
“Where people expected a caring regime, they have been rewarded with the most I don’t care government this country has ever known. Now even that little is being taken away. He is pick-pocketing the poor to feed his rich friends,” said Mr Odinga.
“Where a hustler had two problems, now he has four. Where a hustler could put at least two meals on the table instead of three, now he can put only one. Where a hustler was paying a quarter of school fees, now the hustler must pay in full.”
The opposition leader accused the Head of State of having tax cheats and all sorts of criminals in his government yet he has been pretending to be looking for criminals outside his government.
He accused the President of using the Kenya Revenue Authority to fight his opponents.
“We have a situation where when a poor man steals, he goes to jail while a rich man or woman who steals or had stolen becomes a minister or a CEO,” said Mr Odinga.
“Corruption is written all over the government. The corrupt are having the best time of their lives. They managed to put one of their own as president. For the first time, they own a government,” he added.