Uhuru, Ruto thanksgiving rally set for Sunday

A thanksgiving cum political rally for Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto, who are part of the Ocampo Six, is scheduled to be held at Uhuru Park on Sunday.

MPs allied to the two, who are currently at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, said the rally will start from 11 a.m.

“We are very clear that our rally and prayers will be held on the tenth,” said Public Works assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri, who has been very vocal in his support of the revived political alliance between Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta.

“We have a prayer meeting and a political rally. Politicians don’t pray, ours is to do politics,” Dujis MP Adan Duale asserted.

The team also showed journalists at the press conference at Parliament a letter from Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia indicating they could use the park on Sunday.

They had essentially called the press conference to confirm the official arrival date as well as clear the air on the availability of the park, which has been booked on Friday and Saturday by a non-governmental organisation.

Those on the Ruto-Uhuru alliance who have been left behind are tasked with organising their reception as they head back to the country after their day at the ICC.

“ICC is a political process. We’re here and we’ll face our enemies, whether in the US, Europe and Kenya, politically and legally,” said Mr Duale.

Other MPs at the press conference were: Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu, PNU), Dr Julius Kones (Konoin, ODM), Luka Kigen (Rongai, ODM), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi, ODM) and Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi, ODM). 

Earlier, ODM rejected claims that the party had booked all public venues on the weekend and Monday to block rivals from holding rallies.

"It has come to the attention of the Orange Democratic Movement-ODM that some people are going round claiming that the Party has booked off all the Public venues for the coming weekend through to Monday.

"ODM is not in the business of blocking others from doing what they feel is democratic and in the interest of the Nation," said Ms Janet Onger'a, ODM's executive director.

"ODM is a party that believes in Democracy and the Rule of Law has no intention whatsoever to undermine the very basics that it leadership has always fought for.

"Those peddling such rumours are desperate and cheap propagandists who want to hype their so-called prayer meeting or whatever it is using the popularity our party has across the country.

"ODM does not fear competition and therefore, we call on our competitors to carry on with their activities in peace and leave ODM out of their woes," she said

Additional reporting by Nation correspondent