Azimio La Umoja’s Signature Drive Hits a Historic 6 Million Signatures in the Campaign Against President Ruto’s Rule in Kenya

In the ongoing political saga in Kenya, the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya signature collection campaign aimed at challenging the authority of President William Ruto has achieved a remarkable milestone: the gathering of a whopping 6 million signatures. This significant achievement signals the discontent and dissatisfaction of 6 million Kenyan citizens with the current leadership, echoing their call for change and their unwavering support for the Azimio La Umoja initiative. The news was confirmed by Narc Kenya Leader Martha Karua, who passionately encouraged more Kenyans to participate in this historic initiative.

Martha Karua took to the Azimio La Umoja digital platform to announce the exciting news. She stated, “We are overjoyed to report that as of today, we have successfully gathered 6 million signatures. These are not just random marks on a piece of paper, but the voices of six million Kenyans expressing their dissatisfaction with President Ruto’s regime. We urge you to keep the momentum going by adding your own voice to the mix, simply visit our portals TUMECHOKA.COM, TUMECHOKA.NET, or TUMECHOKA.ORG.”

In an unexpected twist, this news emerged just a day after allegations by the Azimio Coalition accusing the government of deploying disruptive tactics to undermine their signature collection campaign. They allege a deliberate intent by the government to “unseat” President William Ruto, a strategy that seems to involve numerous cyberattacks. Edwin Sifuna, the ODM Secretary General, reported over 1,000 such attacks targeted at destabilizing their efforts.

During an engagement with the media, Sifuna claimed, “Our adversaries are attempting to stifle the signature collection process by resorting to underhanded tactics, including duplicating our website to sow confusion amongst our supporters. Regardless of these obstacles, we will continue our mission until the government heeds the cries of its people. The Kenyan people are ready for a change today.”

The launch of this digital signature collection platform was held on July 11, spearheaded by the coalition’s leader Raila Odinga. Odinga stated that this initiative will serve as a complement to other resistance strategies including civil disobedience, tax boycotts, and defiance against the Finance Act 2023. Odinga, who has adamantly rejected the notion of conceding defeat to Ruto, insisted that the signature drive will continue despite questions surrounding its legality and the coalition’s course of action.

The Azimio leader addressed these concerns stating, “Kenya Kwanza has raised questions about the destination of these signatures and the legality of our endeavor. We do not expect them to comprehend the gravity of the situation at this moment. However, as time progresses, they will undoubtedly grasp the strength of the people’s will. We urge more Kenyans to participate in this historic initiative by appending their signatures.”

For those wondering, the Kenyan Constitution (2010) lays down a complex procedure for the removal of a president from office. Article 144 stipulates that removal can only happen if the National Assembly endorses a report by a tribunal, appointed by the Chief Justice, to deliberate on such a petition. Furthermore, Article 145 states that a two-thirds majority in the Senate must approve the House’s decision to remove the President from office. As it stands, the gathering of signatures is merely the beginning of what promises to be a lengthy process.