'Ocampo Six' given standing ovation at Nakuru thanksgiving rally

From the air to those on foot, they all all arrived with a purpose, trudging to the iconic Afraha Annex Stadium in style, with some in miniature flags and others bedecked in national flag colour outfits.

Those not keen on entering the venue of the Jubilee prayer rally chose to line up outside the stadium to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries, including President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

At the main gates, mean faced security officers subjected the eager crowd to thorough screening without sparing anyone.

Journalists were asked to display their accreditation cards, national identity cards and any protest was dismissed with not-so-kind words.

Inside the stadium, the crowd was pregnant with anticipation. A euphoric moment it was with everyone eager to hear what would transpire. Different aspirations but perhaps a common agenda.

By 10 am, the stadium, with a capacity of more than 20,000 people, was almost full and the scorching sun did not dampen the mood with voices being raised every time a top-of-the-range vehicle made its way into the venue.

The entry of former First Lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, had the crowd on its feet. Thousands cheered her for several minutes before she sat down.

Former powerful cabinet minister in president Daniel Moi’s government, Mr Nicholas Biwott, popularly referred to as “Total Man”, who has shunned the public limelight for a while, also made his way to the venue.

At exactly 12.10 pm, the exhilaration reached a crescendo after an open-top white pick-up snaked its way into the venue ferrying the “Ocampo Six.”

Nostalgic cast. Same script, same players but a different scenario. All the six were in the same vehicle, including publicity shy former police commissioner, Maj-Gen (rtd) Hussein Ali, and former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura.

They were all given a standing ovation as they alighted from the vehicle, having wriggled free from the ICC shackles.

Their body language summed up their feelings. It was their day. A day to offer prayers.

With the prayer rally on, the organisers pulled a first one, by showing a 10-minute video clip that rekindled memories of the six, before they could secure the much cherished freedom.

Some satirical jiffy threw President Uhuru Kenyatta into a spin. He held his mouth in awe, after a word he uttered at the time.

The crowd jeered and frowned anytime the face of former ICC prosecutor Moreno Ocampo popped up on the screen. The hatred was palpable … but it was just a video clip.

The famous “Ocampo Six,” their faces on the screen during the 2011 episode, were greeted with nods of approval. The video was meant to remind the crowd about the journey walked by the six.

YOUNG POET

Rib tickling poet Ryan Mwenda had President Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto doubling over in laughter. His mastery of the English language, despite his tender age, wowed the crowd.

After the youngster finished, he was hugged by the two leaders as he joined them in a dance to cap a joyous moment for the gifted poet.

Meanwhile, Nakuru hotels and lodges recorded brisk business as visitors flocked to the town for the thanksgiving-cum-prayers rally.

By Friday evening, at least 2,000 visitors had checked into various hotels, with high-end hotels benefiting the most.

Ms Wanjiku Njoki, a manager at the Hotel Shik Park, said the facility had recorded high bookings since Thursday.

She said most of their clients came from areas as far as Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Makueni, Meru and other far-flung parts of the country.

“We expect more clients as the prayer rally comes to an end as some might wish to spend the entire weekend in Nakuru,” she said.

A spot-check established that at least 80 per cent of 10 high class hotels in the town had already been booked.

These included Cathy hotel, Merica hotel, Bontana hotel and Waterbuck hotel.

Despite the high expectations from other business people that they would make a killing out of the prayer rally, many, however, claimed there was nothing much to rejoice about.