Kalonzo, Wamalwa want military kept out of civilian protests

Opposition leaders on Monday renewed calls for President William Ruto to withdraw the gazette notice authorising Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) involvement in civilian demonstrations.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, speaking at Nyaikuro Primary School during the burial of chief principal Ben Robert Onwong’a, accused the President of ulterior motives in maintaining the active gazette notice.

The leaders cited recent statements by Chief of Defence Forces Francis Kahariri and National Intelligence Service Director Noordin Haji regarding “Ruto Must Go” chants as revealing the President’s alleged disregard for constitutional protections of free expression.

“We’ve heard our security chiefs’ remarks. Kenyans must wake up to the President’s threatening stance on civil liberties. This illegal notice deploying KDF against Gen-Z protests must be withdrawn immediately,” Kalonzo stated.

Both leaders warned the country was veering dangerously off course unless Ruto rescinded the order.

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Wamalwa specifically cautioned security agencies against political interference, referencing Kahariri’s and Haji’s warnings about protest chants.

Yatta MP Basil Ngui echoed this, urging security officials to “steer clear of politics and uphold constitutional mandates”.

The opposition figures further demanded the withdrawal of Kenyan police deployed to Haiti’s UN mission, citing growing casualties and questioning Kenya’s strategic interests after other nations’ withdrawals.

“Must we keep losing our youth abroad when even America has withdrawn? Why persist when Haiti’s president has fled?” Wamalwa questioned. Kalonzo was flanked by Wiper legislators Ngui, Kitui Woman MP Irene Kasalu, Former Borabu MP Ben Momanyi, Wiper Deputy Leader Victor Swanya and Wiper Nominated MCA to Nyamira County Assembly Zipporah Matundura.

Momanyi said the Wiper party was ready to unite with other opposition parties to ensure the Kenya Kwanza and broad-based government were defeated in 2027 polls.

“Our sole assignment right now is to take Ruto home in 2027 because every Kenyan is a witness to the level of mismanagement the country has been through for the few years he has been in power,” Momanyi said.