We declare that Monday, March 20 will be a public holiday- Raila.
Opposition leader, Raila Odinga has declared next monday as a public holiday.
Speaking at a political rally on Tuesday, March 14, in Siaya County, the former Prime Minister stated that the holiday would allow Azimio supporters to join in the demonstrations, instead of going to work.
He stated that the demos will be peaceful because no one desires bloodshed.
He stated”We do not want any kind of violence or bloodshed. It is going to be peaceful. We are only doing this because it is the only alternative that we have.”
“In the name of Azimio one Kenya Alliance, We declare that Monday, March 20 will be a public holiday,” he added.
He revealed that spiritual leaders had pleaded with him to post pone the rallies but he is not willing to do that.
He stated,” A group of the clergy through the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) have appealed to me.”
“I want to tell them in response that when Azimio came to the conclusion that we need to have a protest, it was after our ultimatum was ignored,” he added.
On her part, Azimio deputy principal, Martha Karua urged his principal to declare a day, a public holiday, to allow for every Kenyan to participate in the mass action.
She stated,”I am requesting Raila to declare that day a public holiday to allow us to complete this work. We cannot keep having elections rigging every year, it has to stop.”
“The people must use their constitutional right to ensure that they allow the person who was chosen by the people to take over the leadership of the country. Let us join in this rally to save this nation.This fight is for the people of Kenya,” she added.
However, according to the constitution, the interior cabinet secretary, is the one who is given powers to declare a public holiday.
The constitution states,”The Minister may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any district or area.”
“The provisions of this Act shall be subject to any written law or individual agreement under which an employee may be required to work on public holidays under specified or agreed conditions as to rates of pay,” it adds.
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