Why Raila Odinga's Azimio has called off Wednesday's nationwide 'maandamano'

In a surprising turn of events, Azimio la Umoja, the One Kenya Coalition party, has announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated nationwide anti-government protest scheduled for Wednesday.

According to a statement Azimio released on Monday, the decision comes in the wake of harrowing revelations of the pain and suffering endured by protesters during the recent violent clashes with the police and hired gangs.

"Azimio has made the decision that on Wednesday, 26th July 2023, we will hold a different kind of protest. The peaceful protests will take the form of solidarity parades and vigil for victims of police brutality in various locations in all parts of the country," the statement read.

Azimio la Umoja expressed the party's grave concern over the escalating tensions and mounting casualties following the previous protests.

"We have at least 50 deaths and hundreds admitted in hospitals with grave injuries," the statement read shedding light on the grim toll the recent events have taken.

The party says the investigation into the extent of the casualties remains ongoing, with reports suggesting that some hospitals have been instructed not to disclose the number of casualties or deaths, leaving many victims to nurse their injuries at home without official records.

"Many hospitals have been instructed not to disclose the number of casualties or deaths or even admit victims of police brutality. Many are therefore nursing their injuries at home while others have had their death go unrecorded," Azimio claimed.

"Many families are struggling with bills as a result of the brutal police assault on members," the statement further read, highlighting the plight faced by the victims' loved ones.

At the heart of Azimio la Umoja's decision to call off the nationwide protest lies the alleged evidence of police brutality and the State's involvement in using armed militia to quell protests.

Azimio shared distressing findings from the party's visits to hospitals and morgues, where they found victims who had been shot at close range, often in vulnerable areas like the abdomen, spine, chest, and head, even as they fled or surrendered. All the victims, they emphasized, were unarmed.

"Some have been shot on the back as they were fleeing or at a position of surrender. The shots have been aimed at the vital organs and delicate parts of the victims like the abdomen, the spine, the chest and the head. All the victims have been unarmed. We have reason to believe that at the end of this exercise of collecting data, the number of the dead will be in their hundreds and the injured in their thousands," the statement read, reflecting the scale of the tragedy and the urgency to address the situation.

In light of the profound revelations, Azimio la Umoja has charted a new course for their advocacy.

Rather than engaging in further confrontational protests, the party now plans to hold a different kind of demonstration on Wednesday - peaceful solidarity parades and vigils held in various locations across the country.

"We are calling on Kenyans to come out, light candles, and lay flowers, preferably white, in remembrance of and respect for the victims," the coalition urged.

During the vigils, Azimio la Umoja aims to offer much-needed support to grieving families.

They intend to provide assistance to those burdened with bills and reach out to offer comfort and solidarity during these trying times.

As the nation braces for this poignant demonstration, the call for peaceful vigils signifies a collective effort by Azimio la Umoja to channel grievances into a powerful display of unity and remembrance.

Beyond the symbolic gestures, the party has vowed to submit an expanded list of alleged perpetrators to the International Criminal Court(ICC), seeking justice for the victims and accountability for the violence witnessed during the protests.