‘Yes’ rally paints Uhuru Park green

Supporters of the proposed constitution during the 'Yes' rally at Uhuru Park, Nairobi on August 1, 2010. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI

What you need to know:

Colourful rally in Nairobi

  • 9am – ‘Yes’ supporters start streaming into Uhuru Park.
  • 10.30am – The first batch of dignitaries – including ministers Otieno Kajwang’, Beth Mugo and Fred Gumo, arrives.
  • 1pm - VP Kalonzo Musyoka and ministers Musalia Mudavadi, James Orengo, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Sam Ongeri arrive.
  • 1.50pm - President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrive.
  • 2.30pm – Ministers speak.
  • 3.20pm – Musalia Mudavadi invites VP to speak.
  • 3.30pm – VP finishes his address and invites PM
  • 3.45pm – Mr Odinga invites President Kibaki to speak.
  • 3.55 m – the rally ends.

They braved near freezing conditions and trooped to Uhuru Park on Sunday to register their support for the proposed constitution.

On foot, aboard trucks, buses, on bicycles, they arrived at the grounds for the penultimate ‘Yes’ rally.

As early as 9am, five hours before the rally was to kick off, Uhuru Park was green, with frenzied ‘Yes’ supporters dancing merrily to beats belted out by artistes led by Ohangla sensation Onyi Papa Jey and Jua Cali. The light showers at midday didn’t deter them.

Security was tight with hawk -eyed presidential guards taking strategic positions. But the security cordon would be broken several times as frenzied youths escorting politicians bulldozed their way to the dais.

Among the early arrivals were Cabinet ministers Fred Gumo, Beth Mugo, Otieno Kajwang’, former MPs Maina Kamanda, Reuben Ndolo and the two co-directors of the ‘Yes’ secretariat.

There was a scuffle when more than a dozen bouncers escorting politician Stanley Livondo tried to force their way to the dais, only to be repulsed.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga also caused a commotion when he arrived at the rally escorted by hundreds of his supporters and forced their way through the security cordon on Kenyatta Avenue.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and ministers Musalia Mudavadi, Anyang’ Nyong’o, James Orengo and Sam Ongeri arrived at the rally at 1pm. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the main speakers at the rally, drove in at 1.50pm to deafening applause from the crowd.