Bunge La Mwananchi opposes Nasa's People’s Assembly

By LILLIAN MUTAVI; THURSDAY NOVEMBER 2 2017    

 

 

Wananchi listen and give their opinions on corruption and governance outside the National Archives in Nairobi County on February 26, 2016. Such gatherings, widely known as Bunge La Mwananchi, offer freedom of expression to Kenyans from across the political divide. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Bunge la Mwananchi is a pro-poor social movement started by people who felt deprived of social justice and decent living conditions.
• The group says it will not allow Mr Odinga to form a group similar to theirs.
• It says it can allow Mr Odinga to join them, but on condition he does not call them for demos or impose his conditions.

Bunge La Mwananchi has opposed the establishment of a People’s Assembly as proposed by the National Super Alliance (Nasa), saying that would be a duplicate of what they have.

On Tuesday Nasa leader Raila Odinga announced that the coalition will not recognise President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election but instead have a People`s Assembly to charts the country’s back to democracy, constitutionalism and the rule law.

PRO-POOR

It instead asked Mr Odinga to join it.

Bunge la Mwananchi, a pro-poor social movement, was started and fronted by people who felt deprived of social justice and decent living conditions.

It has been existence for decades.

Related Content

• Lobby protests at bid to increase food prices

Speaking at Jeevanjee Gardens, chairman Henry Shitanda said the group will not accept Mr Odinga’s plans to take over their platform but he would be allowed to join it like any other Kenyan.

“Although Bunge La Wananchi is an open platform and we indeed invite him to join as a Kenyan, we find some of his agenda contrary to the core mission and tenets of our movement,” said Mr Shitanda.

NO DEMOS

The chairperson said that they will only allow Mr Odinga to join the movement and participate in an upcoming election, where he will face off with other candidates contesting for leadership of the movement.

Mr Shitanda said that the opposition leader will also be invited to attend daily debates at Jeevanjee Gardens to present his agenda to the movement and members will decide whether to adopt or reject them.

The group carries out its daily activities in streets in Nairobi Town and under trees in villages in its core mission to inspire social dialogue among people living together, promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence among communities. Hence, they will not be used in demonstrations and looting, he said.

RULES

“We shall require Mr Odinga and his co-principals to abide by our rules and democratic traditions. We are a non-violent movement that seeks to unite all Kenyans and we require him to publicly reject violence and the secession agenda before joining the movement or we shall reject his agenda totally,” said Mr Shitanda.

“He will choose what sitting to attend as we are devolved to all areas and counties, but he can join the Jeevanjee meeting.”

The movement secretary Kiptoo John said that since Mr Odinga was defeated in national politics, he should humble himself and join the movement as they will not allow the formation of a new group that is similar to theirs.

He urged Mr Odinga not to bring in conditions in the movement and not expect members to join in demonstrations.