Is Raila Odinga Arrested? People are eager to know if he has been arrested concerning the protests against the government, recent tax hikes, and the rising cost of living.
Raila Amolo Odinga is a well-known politician from Kenya. He was the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.
Before that, he represented Langata Constituency in Parliament from 1992 to 2013, and since 2013, he has been the Leader of the Opposition in Kenya.
Odinga is currently leading the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party. He got involved in politics in the 1970s and was elected to Parliament in 1992.
He also served as Minister for Energy from 1993 to 1998. In the 2002 presidential election, he led the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) and won. However, a new election took place in 2007 due to court rulings.
Similarly, the 2007 election was marred by disputes and resulted in widespread violence. Eventually, Odinga became the Prime Minister through a power-sharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki.
He held this position until 2013, when he lost the presidential election to Uhuru Kenyatta.
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Is Raila Odinga Arrested? What Did He Do?
Currently, there is no information on whether Raila Odinga is arrested or in police custody. He is the Leader of the (ODM) Orange Democratic Movement and the leading opposition figure in Kenya.
However, in the past, he has been arrested multiple times. One notable instance was in 1982 when he was accused of being involved in a coup attempt against President Daniel Arap Moi.
He was also arrested in 1990 for campaigning against one-party rule and in 2007 for inciting violence after a disputed presidential election.
Recently, in July 2023, Odinga strongly criticized the government led by President William Ruto.
He called for civil disobedience and weekly nationwide demonstrations to protest against the government’s recent tax hikes and the increasing cost of living.
Unfortunately, these protests resulted in clashes with the police and the loss of lives. As of now, Odinga has not been arrested in connection with these protests.
However, the government has warned that he could face arrest if he continues encouraging violence during the demonstrations.
Where Is Raila Odinga Now?
As of July 20, 2023, the current whereabouts of Raila Odinga in Kenya are unknown. He last saw in public on July 19.
Rumors are circulating that he may have been arrested, but there is no official confirmation yet. The government has not provided any information regarding Odinga’s location.
In July 2023, Odinga called for civil disobedience and weekly nationwide demonstrations against the government’s recent tax hikes and the rising cost of living.
However, recently, he urged the protesters to take a break and resume the demonstrations on Thursday, July 20.
Philip Etale, the Communication Director of the Orange Democratic Movement, welcomed Odinga’s directive and stated that the opposition would continue to hold the current regime accountable within the bounds of the Constitution, which stipulates that protests should end at 5 pm.
Odinga considered the first day of protests successful, as the government showed attentiveness to the grievances raised by the demonstrators.
However, he chose not to dialogue with President William Ruto despite calls from religious leaders and other parties.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) also urged President William Ruto to address concerns similar to those the Azimio la Umoja coalition raised, including repealing the Finance Act 2023 and lowering the cost of living.
On Wednesday, July 19, during the anti-government protest, Odinga maintained silence throughout the day, despite expectations from pro-government allies.
The police and his supporters that he would lead the first day of the three-day demonstrations, set to end on Friday, July 21.
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