Azimio la Umoja Coalition has postponed its upcoming countrywide protests slated for Wednesday, July 26.

In a statement sent to newsrooms, the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga-led coalition instead directed its supporters to light candles in honour of colleagues who lost their lives during past protests. 

Azimio estimates that at least 50 deaths were recorded during the protests while hundreds of other people are still admitted to hospitals after sustaining injuries.

"Azimio has made the decision that on Wednesday, rather than go to the streets for a peaceful demonstration as earlier announced, we will hold solidarity parades and vigil for victims of police brutality in various locations in all parts of the country.

"We are calling Kenyans to come out and light candles and lay flowers in remembrance of and respect for the victims," read the statement in part.

The opposition directed its supporters to light candles, lay flowers, say prayers, and read out the names of the individuals it claims were victims of police brutality. 

"We have visited hospitals and morgues and we have established that police and hired gangs have shot and killed or wounded scores of people at close range," added the statement

The postponement came a few hours after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki promised to deploy police officers as early as 1:00 am to apprehend protesters caught stealing or destroying infrastructure.

The CS emphasised that the police deployment done in the previous week was a warm-up to the plans laid out for the coming protests.

"Two Wednesdays ago, we wanted to see if Kenyans can conduct peaceful protests. But three hours later, a lot of damage was done in various parts of the country and by the time we deployed police, it was too late. 

"That is last week. We decided we are not going to the same criminals to do the same. We will remain firm," he told the press on Monday.

In an earlier statement read by former Murang'a County Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Azimio noted that it was ready to hold protests again but reduced the number of days from three to one.

That was after Amnesty International confirmed that over 30 people had lost their lives in the hands of the police since the protests began in March 2023. By Derrick Okubasu, Kenyans.co.ke