Tension as rivals vow to meet at Uhuru Park on Madaraka Day

Cord leader, Raila Odinga[in white and blue Shirt] leads Orange Democratic movement leaders in a dance at Wildwaters in Mombasa. Raila urged youths to take job opportunities in the country. He met 6000 youths. 28th May 2016. Photo Omondi Onyango/Standard

A battle is looming for Uhuru Park, Nairobi’s most famous recreation park.

The park, with a rich history of violent protests, is set to host another round of confrontation between Jubilee and the Opposition CORD unless either backs down.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has vowed to lead his supporters for a rally on Wednesday when the country celebrates Madaraka Day, while President Uhuru Kenyatta will be leading the nation in marking the day from Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium.

Jubilee leaders have scoffed at Raila’s planned rally describing it as a move meant to divide the country and belittling the national day.

Raila had vowed to go ahead with the planned rally despite revelations that the grounds had been booked for prayers by a religious group.

Evangelist Lucy Ngunjiri of Prayers Beyond Boundaries ministries had booked and paid for the grounds for a four-day prophetic prayer rally from May, 31 to June, 3, 2016.

Her posters for the event showed a wide array of guest speakers and musicians including Tanzania’s Rose Muhando.

But yesterday, the Evangelist announced that she would not be holding a prayer meeting on Wednesday as she did not want to court controversy.

Instead, she said she would follow the matter with the County Government of Nairobi since she had paid. In her Facebook page, the evangelist said since God was omnipresent, she would conduct prayers elsewhere, as she had been pushed hard.

During her morning service in one of the vernacular radio stations she said she was neither a CORD nor Jubilee fan and her ministry brings together all tribes and communities, adding that she did not want to fight the Opposition.

Police had earlier said the Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries will be the one to hold their crusade at Uhuru Park and, therefore, they will not allow CORD to interfere.

But her backing down has not made things better. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery yesterday issued a warning against those threatening to hold a parallel Madaraka Day rally at the grounds.

Mr Nkaisery said he will not hesitate to arrest the Opposition should they continue with their plans.

“You (CORD) are challenging the Government. You’ll be met with the full force of the law,” he said from Kajiado.

Too Much Leeway

Later on, the CS reiterated his warning through his Twitter account. “We’ve given these people too much leeway to do wrong things, they have to stop or we’ll arrest them ~ @GenNkaisserry” read the tweet.

He added: “The Government is using very minimum force.... you have not seen force yet! ~ @InteriorKE CS @GenNkaisserry

Earlier, Jubilee leaders led by MPs Maina Kamanda (Starehe), Dennis Waweru, John Ndirangu (Embakasi Central) and Racheal Shebesh (Nairobi Woman Rep) said they would go to Uhuru Park for prayers organised by Prayers Beyond Boundaries ministries.

The Jubilee MPs argued that it would be unfair for CORD to push out the religious organisation from the grounds, claiming that CORD had not paid for the facility.

“As Jubilee leaders in Nairobi, we will attend the prayers at Uhuru Park. Madaraka Day is a national holiday, and we want to appeal to them (CORD) to be patriotic enough. This is the time to unite Kenyans,” said Mr Waweru at a press conference.

He added: “We see plans to cause chaos. You don’t need to fight on such a day with the church. Let’s respect God and allow the church to hold prayers at Uhuru Park.”

But speaking in Mombasa yesterday, Raila said the Oppositions’ celebrations at the historic grounds should not be seen as an act of defiance against the Government.

He said CORD’s Uhuru Park rally is aimed at defusing rising political tension in the country and enable the Opposition to outline its plans to reconcile and heal the country.

“Our country today is at the crossroads. Madaraka Day celebrations should unite our people,” said Raila.