Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has launched a signature collection campaign whose aim, the opposition supremo says, is to remove President William Ruto from office.

While addressing the Saba Saba rally at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, the former prime minister said the coalition targets 10 million signatures by next Friday, July 14.

Raila stated that the decision was necessitated by the government's failure to address the opposition's grievances including punitive taxes, high cost of living, electoral fraud and biased recruitment of electoral commissioners.

The opposition has in recent months protested against the ongoing recruitment of the commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying it is an attempt by the Head of State to constitute an electoral body that will favour his re-election bid in 2027.

The Azimio leader is currently leading thousands of protesters towards the Nairobi Central Business District(CBD) despite warning from the police that no protests will be allowed in the CBD.

Earlier, the protesters engaged in running battles with the police as the procession began marching from the Kamukunji grounds. Police lobbed teargas in a bid to disperse the crowds that continued growing in huge numbers. 

However the protesters were unfazed and reiterated by hurling stones towards the police.

"There are many ways to reach 'Rome', when they block one road, we use another. Today, our 'Rome' is called Central Park, that is where we shall meet after the Kamukunji rally," Raila told his supporters on Friday.

"We will just match peacefully saying we are tired," he stated.

Several other Azimio principals including Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are leading protests in various parts of the country.