Battle lines drawn as Raila vows to ignore ban on rally
What you need to know:
- Cord had said it would hold the rally at Uhuru Park, the same venue that a religious group was expected to hold a prayer meeting.
- Mr Kiraithe said the double booking of the venue was an “unfortunate administrative oversight” which would pose a threat to Kenyans in Nairobi who will be celebrating Madaraka Day.
- However, Cord responded immediately saying they had filed a case in court to overturn the ban by NSAC on rallies at Uhuru Park. A decision will be made today at 10.30am.
Cord leaders have vowed to go ahead with a parallel Madaraka Day rally in defiance of a blanket directive imposed by a top government security, which has said no meetings will be held in Nairobi.
The decision by the politicians led by Mr Raila Odinga sets the stage for a confrontation between Cord supporters and security agencies in the capital - given that the National Security Advisory Committee on Monday warned that holding political rallies in the city poses a security threat.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead the Government in celebrating Madaraka Day at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
Similar events will be held in counties across the country. In Nairobi, the county-level celebrations will take place in Starehe Constituency at Pumwani Secondary School.
Madaraka Day is a national holiday commemorating the day Kenya attained internal self-government in 1963 with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta as Prime Minister.
The country became independent six months later and became a republic with Mzee Kenyatta as President and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as Vice-President.
One was the father of President Kenyatta. The other was the father of Cord leader Odinga.
On Monday, Mr Odinga said: “We did not intend to hold a parallel function to that of the President. In fact, we were just going to celebrate and we are ready to celebrate it anywhere else, not necessarily in Nakuru.”
He said that Cord would use the day for reflection.
“We have serious challenges in this country today and we need to trace our roots. We start with truth, justice and reconciliation and peace.”
He spoke before government spokesman Eric Kiraithe announced a ban on rallies and prayers in the capital.
RESTRICTED AREA
Cord had said it would hold the rally at Uhuru Park, the same venue that a religious group was expected to hold a prayer meeting.
Although the religious group, Prayer Beyond Boundaries Ministries, had paid for the venue the Nairobi County government said it had only allowed the Cord rally.
Mr Kiraithe said the double booking of the venue was an “unfortunate administrative oversight” that would pose a threat to Kenyans in Nairobi who will be celebrating Madaraka Day.
He said the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) met in the morning to discuss the double bookings and decided to ban both meetings.
“First, it was decided that neither of the parties who had reserved the premises will be permitted to use the grounds on the material day. Both parties are therefore hereby requested to reorganise their activities accordingly,” he said.
Mr Kiraithe also said Nyayo National Stadium — the venue of choice for national-day celebrations — would be closed on Madaraka Day.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to those affected. Indeed, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring public safety across the country both on Wednesday and otherwise,” he said.
However, Cord responded immediately, saying it had filed a case in court to overturn the ban by NSAC on rallies at Uhuru Park. A decision will be made Tuesday at 10.30am.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed advised Mr Kiraithe to acquaint himself with the constitutional provisions on freedom of assembly.
“Cord will go ahead with its rally on Wednesday,” Mr Mohamed said at Mr Odinga’s Capitol Hill offices.
TREASON
However, Mr Kiraithe said intelligence arising from investigations into recent Cord demonstrations over the IEBC had revealed that there were people working to cause instability with the help of two neighbouring countries.
“The government considers these contemptible undertakings to be a betrayal of Kenya and Kenyans,” he said. “These are acts of treason. Any person who collaborates with an enemy of Kenya is also an enemy of Kenya and will be met with the swift, full and unmitigated wrath of the law.”
He promised that the government would reveal the outcome of the investigations “and unmask these despicable traitors”.
He asked the public to be patient and promised to be uncompromising in the quest for national security.
Earlier in the day, Mr Odinga, Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula met members of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, who urged the Cord leaders to call off the parallel Madaraka Day rally as well as their weekly demonstrations against members of the electoral commission.
