Raila: I can walk freely in the streets, I won't waste time asking for state security

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has confirmed that he will not ask the State to restore his security detail.

Odinga’s security was withdrawn by the government at the height of protests earlier this year.

Speaking during a local interview, the former presidential candidate revealed that he procured the services of private guards to man his home.

“Although I am entitled to state security, I will not bother to ask the government to return them. I will not waste my time going to court because my biggest security is the people; that is why I can walk freely in the streets,” he was quoted by The Standard.

Raila Odinga addresses residents of Ongata Rongai ahead of anti-govt protests. PHOTO/TWITTER

Kindiki offers to reinstate security for Raila, Azimio leaders

His sentiments come a week after Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki announced that affected Azimio leaders would have their security reinstated.

However, Kindiki’s declaration came with some conditions.

Interior CS Kindiki Kithure (pictured above) meets the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities to respond to questions on the employment opportunities in Kenya Prisons Service.

“We provide security to everyone in the country. Those affected members, if they have stopped what was happening, they can still talk to us, we will give them security, they are entitled to security,” the Interior CS added.

CS Kindiki was speaking when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on National cohesion and equal opportunity chaired by Mandera West MP Aden Haji Yussuf.

Azimio leaders warned

The former Tharaka Nithi Senator, who issued a tough warning to Azimio leaders leading the protests, asserted that he would not deploy state officers to protect the rioting parties.

CS Kindiki (pictured above) was accompanied by Principal Secretary, Correctional Services Salome Muhia-Beacco and Commissioner General, Kenya Prisons Service John Warioba.

“These are people who are serving in the same agency with police who were containing the protests…you can easily create a very ugly situation so we said all those who were exercising their right of picketing should do so peacefully and unarmed,” he explained.

Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, four governors and over 50 MPs had their security withdrawn two days ahead of the three-day demonstrations called by Raila from July 19 to July 21.